A12

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they have received from Suffolk County Council for the improvement of the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Her Majesty's Government have not received any specific proposals from Suffolk County Council regarding improvements to the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft.

A40: Headington Roundabout

Lord Goodhart: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why traffic lights have not been installed on the A40 at the Headington roundabout.

Lord Davies of Oldham: This is a matter for Oxfordshire County Council which is the highway authority for the roads concerned.

Adult Literacy

Lord Trefgarne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number of adults in the United Kingdom who are illiterate.

Lord Adonis: Skills for Life Survey: A national needs and impact survey of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills (DfES, October 2003) provides the latest estimates of adult literacy levels across England. The survey assessed the literacy, numeracy and ICT skills of around 8,000 adults aged 16 and above in England.
	The survey findings are shown in the tables below. The assessment levels correspond to the literacy national standards: these were introduced in 2000 to provide a framework for all adult screening tests, diagnostic tools, programmes of study and qualifications. Learners are assessed for levels of literacy from entry level 1 to level 2—and encouraged to progress from the lowest levels of literacy to level 2 (broadly equivalent to a higher grade GCSE (A*-C)).
	Overall around 16 per cent. of adults had literacy skills below level 1.
	Overall Literacy
	
		Base: all respondents with literacy level (7874)
		
			  Percentage of 16 to 65 year-olds Number of 16to 65 year-olds 
			 Entry level 1 or below 3% 1.1 million 
			 Entry level 2 2% 0.6 million 
			 Entry level 3 11% 3.5 million 
			 (All Entry level or below) (16%) (5.2 million) 
			 Level 1 40% 12.6 million 
			 Level 2 or above 44% 14.1 million 
			  100% 31.9 million 
		
	
	Source: Census 01
	Skills for Life survey, 2003
	A copy of the survey report is in the House of Commons Library and on the DfES website at www.dfes.gov.uk.
	The department does not collect comparable information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Aircraft Carriers

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received any proposals from the French Government that the French should become directly engaged in the United Kingdom project to construct two new large aircraft carriers; and, if so, what response they have made to such proposals.

Lord Drayson: Given that both we and France are embarking on major, complex carrier procurement projects, we are examining areas of mutual benefit and opportunities to deliver economies. Co-operation through industry-to-industry links may offer potential benefits to both sides. It is for industry to put forward proposals which will be judged on their merits and in light of national policies.

A-Levels: General Studies

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the total GCE A-level entries and passes by candidates in England broken down by age and by gender (a) including General Studies, and (b) excluding General Studies in (i) 1970; (ii) 1975; (iii) 1980; (iv) 1985; (v) 1988; (vi) 1990; (vii) 1992 and (viii) 1997 to 2003; and what were the similar figures for AS-levels, Vocational Certificate of Education A-levels and Advanced General National Vocational Qualifications.

Lord Adonis: The information requested (where available) has been placed in the House Libraries.

Armed Forces: Ammunition

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence has met all the requirements for the provision of training ammunition to regular, reserve and cadet units in the past 12 months; if not, what were the shortfalls; and why did they occur.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence has met all the requirements for the provision of training ammunition to regular, reserve and cadet units in the past 12 months.

Asian Tsunami

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What financial support they have given Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives for reconstruction following the tsunami; whether the full amount pledged has been granted; and whether they are considering further grants for reconstruction.

Baroness Amos: DfID has allocated £65 million to meet reconstruction needs in the Tsunami affected region. To date, £41 million of this money has been committed, while the remaining £24 million of the allocation has not yet been programmed.
	In Indonesia, the joint government/donor needs assessment undertaken shortly after the tsunami estimated damages and losses of around US$4.5 billion. The UK has committed £36 million to Indonesia, of which £6 million has so far been paid out to the Multi Donor Trust Fund.
	In Sri Lanka, the total cost of reconstruction and rehabilitation is estimated to be some US$2.2 billion. Pledges of support in excess of US$3 billion have been secured, which is more than ample to meet the required needs. However, we are concerned that the magnitude of the reconstruction task might be beyond the capacity of local authorities in Sri Lanka to implement efficiently. We are therefore working with the Government and donors to develop programmes to augment the planning and implementation capacity of local government, and have allocated £2 million to meet the costs. In addition, DfID is meeting 10 per cent. of the cost of Sri Lanka's interest payments on their debt to the World Bank. This is worth some £41 million over the next 10 years. The government of Sri Lanka have agreed that the funds released will be allocated to tsunami recovery and poverty reduction programmes.
	DfID provided £1.6 million towards the humanitarian and recovery effort in the Maldives but has not directly provided commitments towards reconstruction, as we do not have a bilateral programme in this country. However, we are working to encourage the EC to allocate more funding to the Maldives. We have also contributed to the financing of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The World Bank has provided $14 million in financial support to the Maldives reconstruction and recovery programme, while the Asian Development Bank is providing an initial new assistance of $20 million in grants to help reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Asian Tsunami

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether aid in response to the tsunami is reaching all affected sections of the community in Indonesia and Sri Lanka; and what evidence they have to support this.

Baroness Amos: Aid in response to the tsunami is reaching all affected sections of the community in Indonesia. International donor and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working very closely with the Government of Indonesia (GoI) in responding to the areas of need, as identified by the GoI. Regular monitoring and reporting from the UN indicates that in a number of areas, and with the large resources available, recovery programmes are able to offer more than just meeting the basic needs.
	The sheer scale of the devastation and its impact on the local administration and infrastructure placed many constraints on the delivery of the assistance in the early stages but the government of Indonesia's strong system of decentralised government and comprehensive planning approach has put the reconstruction efforts to the forefront. The establishment of a specific Agency for Reconstruction and Recovery is proving to be very effective and has recently approved over US$408 million for 96 programmes covering such areas as infrastructure, housing, education, health and economic development.
	In Sri Lanka emergency assistance immediately after the tsunami was promptly provided to all affected communities. The government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) co-operated effectively in the north and east. The absence of deaths from disease and serious illness in communities devastated by the tsunamis provides the clearest evidence of success. The Department for International Development (DfID) is currently undertaking a review and evaluation of the emergency response to substantiate this.
	Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DfID, visited Sri Lanka in June to assess the recovery effort. He found that, although reconstruction and recovery assistance is also reaching all affected communities, it is reaching some communities sooner than others.
	There are several reasons for this. First, the size of the recovery programme is enormous and there are literally hundreds of non-governmental organisations implementing recovery programmes. Co-ordinating these programmes, ensuring consistency with government plans, and equitable delivery and standards across the island is an enormous task for the Sri Lankan authorities. There are limited administrative and technical resources and local government authorities are over-stretched. Inevitably there are bureaucratic delays and frustrations. Donors, including DfID are working with the Government to strengthen their administrative structures and to make the delivery of recovery programmes as efficient as possible.
	In addition, in some districts of Sri Lanka, the availability of land is a major constraint and is delaying resettlement and recovery. To prevent damage from future tsunamis the government of Sri Lanka have forbidden any reconstruction or new construction within a buffer zone stretching 100 metres from the coast (200 metres in the north and east). Many people previously lived within this zone, and many schools and medical facilities were also situated there. It is proving difficult to secure alternative land where families can be relocated, and where schools and medical facilities can be rebuilt. As a result some people are having to remain in temporary accommodation longer than we all would wish. The situation is further complicated because many of the displaced families were illegally squatting before the tsunamis. DfID and other donors continue to encourage the government of Sri Lanka to be flexible and pragmatic in the application of the buffer zone regulation. In response, the government of Sri Lanka have commissioned an inquiry into the buffer zone and have indicated that they may consider flexible implementation where appropriate.
	There has been concern that the lack of an agreement between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE on how to manage donor assistance was delaying the delivery of assistance to communities in areas contested by the LTTE. The recent agreement concluded between the Government and the LTTE (the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure, P-TOMS) provides a mechanism for ensuring that these areas have access to assistance. We are optimistic that the legal challenge to establishing the structure will be overcome and that it will be made operational in September.

Asian Tsunami

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether sufficient assistance is being given to Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives to set up a tsunami early warning system; and when they expect such a system will be established.

Baroness Amos: It is important that the affected governments and communities are better prepared for all future crises. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has set up an interim Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning Centre which involves both the Japan Meteorological Agency and the United States' National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. The interim system covers Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives and other countries in the region.
	National contact points have been identified and are managed by the IOC team in Paris. National needs assessments are ongoing and a coherent plan for the final system is due by September this year. The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Coordinating Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System takes place in Australia in early August. It is hoped that the final system will be in place by July 2006. We and other donors are awaiting the final design to decide how we might best support them.
	The UK supports the creation of this system and other disaster risk reduction measures. DfID has allocated £7.5 million for disaster risk reduction measures to tsunami affected countries. This will include support to community-level work to raise awareness of danger signals from early warning systems and ensure they know how to respond to best protect themselves and their families.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the recent death of Debbie Storey, a sufferer from an autistic spectrum disorder: (a) what plans they have to ensure that all healthcare professionals and teachers receive up-to-date and continuing training in understanding and addressing the needs of adults and children with autistic spectrum disorders; and (b) whether they will work with the relevant professional and training bodies to ensure that this becomes a priority.

Lord Warner: Addressing the training needs of those health professionals working with people with autistic spectrum disorders is the responsibility of the appropriate regulatory bodies. They set standards for the pre-registration training of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, approve the education institutions providing training and decide on curricula. We do share a commitment with them that all health professionals are trained so that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality health services to all sections of the population.
	Post-registration training needs for National Health Service staff are decided against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service. Local authorities and health service providers decide how best to provide services to meet the needs of the individuals.
	We have, however, produced guidance to help local planning of both services and training. These include Valuing People: A New strategy for people with learning disabilities (2001) recognising that many people with severe and profound learning disabilities have autistic behaviours, even if not formally recognised; and Green Light: How Good Are Your Mental Health Services for People with Learning Disabilities? (March 2004), a guide to developing good services to meet the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities.
	In addition, in order to promote the development of local protocols for collaboration between specialist learning disability services and specialist mental health services, we have added a learning disabilities dimension to the mental health national service framework (1999) local implementation planning process in 2002 and 2003.
	Working with the Teacher Training Agency, the Department for Education and Skills is carrying forward a range of proposals designed to improve the special educational needs skills and confidence of trainee, newly qualified and established teachers.

Cabinet Office: Consultants

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent by the Cabinet Office on consultants in each of the past five years.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Cabinet Office spend on consultants in each of the past five years is set out in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
			 2000-01 10.93 million 
			 2001-02 16.88 million 
			 2002-03 13.39 million 
			 2003-04 15.93 million 
			 2004-05 12.70 million

Cabinet Office: Taxis

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much the Cabinet Office spent on taxis in each of the past eight years.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The amount spent on taxis in the Cabinet Office from 1997-98 to 2002-03 was as follows.
	
		
			 Year Amount 
			 1997-98 £25,535 
			 1998-99 £96,395 
			 1999-2000 £176,489 
			 2000-01 £220,618 
			 2001-02 £267,362 
			 2002-03 £354,285 
		
	
	In 2003-04 a number of changes were made to the accounting system in order to rationalise the number of accounts and details of taxi costs ceased to be held separately. Therefore, we are unable to provide separate figures for the financial years 2003-04 and 2004-05.
	The increases reflect significant policy work taken on by the Cabinet Office during this period affecting the numbers of staff meeting the criteria for using taxis to travel due to working unsociable hours. The numbers of staff employed by the Cabinet Office rose over this period and contract costs also increased.
	The figures relating to some of the years were also affected by the inclusion of costs relating to earlier years due to the way travel costs were recorded.
	All official travel in my department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office management code.

Cabinet Secretary: Meetings

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Sir Andrew Turnbull in his capacity as the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service has met— (a) Mr John Boyle OBE; (b) Mr Nigel Doughty; (c) Sir Maurice Hatter; (d) Sir Christopher Ondaatje; (e) Sir Frank Lowe; (f) Sir Ronald Cohen; or (g) Mr Nigel Morris.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: In his capacity as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Andrew Turnbull has not met with the individuals identified by the noble Lord.

Care Homes

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking in response to the Office of Fair Trading report Care homes for older people in the UK published in May 2005 to (a) protect those who find themselves victims of exploitative practices; (b) ensure that payments made by the National Health Service are passed on to care home residents; and (c) ban local authorities and care homes from charging top-up fees which do not meet the Department of Health guidance.

Lord Warner: The Office of Fair Trading published a report on care homes for older people on 18 May 2005. The report made a number of recommendations to the Government, which the Government are currently considering.

Centre for the Measurement of Government Activity

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the United Kingdom Centre for the Measurement of Government Activity will start operating.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician and Registrar General, Len Cook, dated 27 July 2005.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking when the United Kingdom Centre for the Measurement of Government Activity will start operating. (HL1450)
	I announced my intention to set up the United Kingdom Centre for the Measurement of Government Activity at the end of January this year. Preparations have since proceeded and the centre was formally launched on Tuesday 19 July. Further details were set out in the attached ONS news release on that date. The news release is also available on the ONS website at www.statistics.gov.uk./pdfdir/centre0705.pdf.

Children in Care

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they monitor the regularity of visits by social workers to children in care.

Lord Adonis: Information about social workers' visits to individual children is collected by Children's Services Authorities (CSAs) as part of the regular review of each child's case. This information enables CSAs to monitor their own performance as part of their quality assurance arrangements. Visits by social workers to looked-after children are not measured as part of the regular monitoring of children's services performance, but CSCI does inspect CSAs, quality assurance arrangements. The irregularity of social work visits was highlighted in the recent report of the Second Joint Chief Inspectors' Children's Safeguards Review Report.

Children in Care

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children in local authority care have no allocated social worker.

Lord Adonis: Data for those with no assigned social worker are not collected. Local authorities report annually to the Commission for Social Care Inspection on the percentage of their looked after children who have an assigned social worker who is qualified as a social worker, who is not a team leader. The latest figures are from 2003-04, and show that 92.6 per cent. of children looked after in England had a named, qualified social worker.

Children: Family Court Proceedings

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that children involved in family proceedings are encouraged to attend court and have a full say in the formal arrangements that directly affect them.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Government are committed to ensuring that children and young people are consulted about policy and services for them. They should have the opportunity to make their views known in decision-making concerning their future. This work is ongoing and subject to review. Existing provisions offer a range of ways in which children's wishes and feelings may be ascertained—whether direct to the court or indirectly through guardians and/or written reports to the court.

Children Leaving the United Kingdom

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they keep a record of children leaving the United Kingdom; and what steps are made to trace children who have not returned to the United Kingdom after a month.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No records are kept of children leaving the United Kingdom.

Children's Homes

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of children's homes have regular visits (at least once a month) from an independent visitor.

Lord Adonis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Children's Homes

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they are addressing the concerns of inspectors at the number of staff in independent children's homes who lack skills, experience and training.

Lord Adonis: The Government published their Children's Workforce Strategy: Building a world-class workforce for children and young people for consultation on 1 April 2005. The strategy recognises the need for everyone who works with children and young people to be properly and suitably skilled and competent, and for there to be career pathways open to everyone in the children's workforce which recognises the common core of skills and knowledge. We will publish the Government's response to the consultation later this year.
	In addition, the Government announced on 21 July 2005 that the General Social Care Council will be preparing early plans for the registration of the social care workforce beyond social workers, to include domiciliary and residential care staff. It is anticipated that this will include all residential staff in children's homes.
	The qualification requirements for residential child care workers and managers are included in the children's homes national minimum standards. National minimum standard 29.5 of the children's homes national minimum standards states that: "A minimum ratio of 80 per cent. of all care staff have completed their Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People NVQ by January 2005. Staff may hold other qualifications that require similar competencies, and these may be courses developed locally which are accredited. New staff engaged from January 2004 need to hold the Caring for Children and Young People NVQ or another qualification which matches the competencies or begin working towards them within three months of joining the home." I understand that the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection met with the noble Lord on 27 July 2005 to discuss the performance of children's homes against this standard. We will consider the adequacy of the standards as part of our review of Children's Social Services National Minimum Standards.
	An annual national training strategy grant is paid to local authorities to support training for social care staff. The grant is intended to support mainly NVQ training for local authority staff and staff in voluntary and private sector organisations contracted to provide social care services. The Government are also investing £14 million in 2005-06 in the development of learning resource centre networks, which will support work-based learning for all social care staff.

Children's Homes

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the staff vacancy rate in children's homes in (a) England; (b) Wales; (c) Scotland; (d) Northern Ireland; and (e) in total.

Lord Adonis: The vacancy rates in local authority residential establishments for children, including children's homes, in England in 2003 (the latest date for which data are available) were 10.3 per cent. for managerial staff and 12.5 per cent. for care staff.
	The vacancy rate for staff based in Scottish local authority residential establishments for children, including children's homes, in 2004 was 9.7 per cent.
	Information is not held centrally on vacancy rates in children's homes in England and Scotland provided by the independent sector.
	The vacancy rate for staff based in statutory sector children's homes in Northern Ireland at 30 June 2005 is 4.3 per cent. headcount/4.0 per cent. whole time equivalent. The vacancy rate for staff based in voluntary and private sector children's homes in Northern Ireland at 30 June 2005 is 6.7 per cent. headcount/6.8 per cent. whole time equivalent.
	The Welsh Assembly Government do not centrally collect the information requested for Wales.

Children's Literacy

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What policies they are pursuing to encourage children to read, and be read to, outside the classroom.

Lord Adonis: The Secretary of State announced this week that we have expanded the very successful Bookstart programme which currently provides free books to every baby in England at around eight months. The aim is to encourage parents to share books with their children from the earliest age and to instil a life-long love of reading. From later this year, the programme will be extended to provide free books, library invitations and supporting materials to every child 18 months and three years, as well as continuing delivery of the eight-month pack. The programme delivers these packs through health visitors, librarians and early years practitioners. Not only does this reinforce the importance of parental involvement in children's learning, it provides an informal route for parents to access professional support for their own literacy skills development.
	The department and the primary and secondary national strategies provide a range of materials to support teachers, school librarians and others to ensure that their schools both provide high quality teaching and learning in reading, and promote an environment which encourages children's enthusiasm for reading.
	In addition, the National Reading Campaign, delivered on our behalf by the National Literacy Trust, promotes reading across the community and aims to ensure that as many people as possible enjoy the pleasures and benefits that independent reading and reading with others can bring. A key element of the campaign includes the reading champions initiative which finds and celebrates positive male role models for reading in educational and community settings and seeks to change boys' attitudes to reading.
	We encourage schools to develop study support activities which focus on literacy, including reading and book clubs, whether they take place on the school premises or elsewhere such as the local library. Our Playing for Success study support centres which open out of school hours use sport as a theme in their reading activities to encourage children to read. We have also funded the national charity ContinYou to develop resource materials to help schools set up and maintain reading clubs.

Children's Workforce

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment has been made of encouraging volunteers to enter the children's workforce; and whether they will consider this as part of the present children's workforce strategy consultation.

Lord Adonis: Over 4 million people work in the children's workforce, of which nearly 2 million are unpaid volunteers. We value that contribution enormously, in supporting parents, early years' provision, in schools, in social care and in providing opportunities for sports and leisure activities for children and young people.
	We also understand and recognise the important role that volunteering can play as a stepping-stone towards paid employment.
	We are about to start our analysis of the written responses—the consultation closed on 22 July—and would expect there to be a good deal of discussion about both the need to value and support volunteers in their own right and the need to offer appropriate career opportunities for volunteers wanting to move into paid employment in the children's workforce. We believe that the proposed single qualifications framework for the children's workforce, built around the common core of skills and knowledge and explicitly recognising prior experience and learning, will have an important role to play.
	We intend to publish our response to the consultation later this year and I would expect that response to say more about both of these important, related but subtly different issues.

Climate Change

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated total level of annual expenditure by central Government and their Agencies on combating, mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Climate change is a global issue and we have introduced many measures aimed at combating, mitigating and adapting to climate change. Some measures have been implemented directly to tackle climate change. Where the primary aim of the policy is not to tackle climate change, we have tried to ensure that impact on climate change is fully incorporated into the policy. At least £545 million is spent annually on spending policies that tackle climate change, but this is a conservative estimate as there are other spending policies that also have climate change benefits.
	The figure of £545 million includes energy research and development, contributions to EU research programmes, national research councils and government department research spend, Warm Front and organisations (Carbon Trust and Energy Savings Trust) that help businesses and households be more efficient in their use of energy.
	The Government also spend £570 million per annum on flooding and coastal defences each year, some of which will clearly be in response to pressures arising from the need to adapt to climate change.
	There are also a wide range of non-spending policies that help achieve the behavioural change required to move towards a lower carbon economy including for example the Climate Change Levy and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Common Agricultural Policy

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have discussed their proposals for the reform of the common agricultural policy with Frau Merkel of the German Christian Democratic Union Party; and, if so, what was her response.

Lord Triesman: The Government maintain contact on EU issues with the German Government and opposition political parties. These discussions, as with other international partners, are held in confidence so as not to prejudice the UK's relations with such parties.

Community Energy Programme

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total expenditure on the community heating project since its inception; and what is the projected expenditure to the end of the current spending round.

Lord Bach: The budget for the first phase of the community energy programme is £50 million and the cut-off for expenditure is the end of the 2006–07 financial year. We have spent £13.7 million to date, including the costs of managing the programme. In 2004 Defra committed a further £10 million to a second phase of the programme for the years to 2007–08. We expect spending on it to begin next year, following a call for projects towards the end of this year.

Community Hospitals: General Practitioner Beds

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which community hospitals with general practitioner beds, listed by primary care trust, have been opened in England during the past five years; and
	Which community hospitals with general practitioner beds, listed by primary care trust, have closed in England during the past five years.

Lord Warner: The data requested are not available centrally.

Community Renewables Initiative

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made a decision on the future of the Community Renewables Initiative.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Community Renewables Initiative (CRI) was extended for a further year from April 2005. The CRI's sponsors (DTI, the Countryside Agency, Defra and the Forestry Commission) have recently commissioned a study to review options for renewable energy advice and support to communities, which is due to report in September. Following the results of this study, the sponsors will take a decision on the future of the CRI.

Community Service

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider the introduction of compulsory one-year community service work experience schemes for young people between the ages of 18 to 21.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government do not consider that compulsory community service for young people is necessarily the way forward. Measures to encourage non-compulsory volunteering however are currently under way.
	In January this year the Government published Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: the Government's strategy to increase race equality and community cohesion. This strategy was prepared after extensive consultation and includes a range of commitments to help young people grow up with a sense of common belonging, including measures to encourage citizenship and volunteering.
	The Russell Commission was established in May 2004 by the then Home Secretary, David Blunkett and the Chancellor Gordon Brown. The commission was established to develop a new national framework for youth action and engagement and reported to Government in March 2005 with a recommendation to create a dedicated implementation body. This body will bring together young people, business, the voluntary and community sector and government in a shared purpose, to make volunteering a valued part of young people's lives. Young people will be able to choose between short-term volunteering, such as taster sessions and local taskforce activities, part-time volunteering and full-time programmes.
	Most recently on 18 July 2005 the Government published the Youth Green Paper, Youth Matters. The paper addresses key issues relating to how teenagers are both supported and challenged. The proposals include expansion of opportunities for peer mentoring and longer-term volunteering opportunities.

COTES Regulations

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the letter from the Lord Whitty to the Lord Skelmersdale of 7 April, what was the result of the public consultation on the proposed COTES regulations.

Lord Bach: A summary of the responses is available at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/cotes/responses–summary.pdf. Officials are considering these responses and will issue a replacement for the COTES Regulations later in the year.
	In the mean time, on 27 June 2005 the Government published the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement)(Amendment) Regulations 2005, which increase the maximum prison sentence for certain wildlife trade offences from two to five years. These increased penalties bring with them stronger powers for police officers, including a power of arrest.

Council Housing

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Yvette Cooper, on 20 June (HC Deb, 840W), whether the reduction in the number of local authority dwellings between 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2004 is due to the right to buy scheme; whether the increase in housing association dwellings is due to newly built dwellings; and what is projected to happen to the respective totals in the period 31 March 2004 to 31 March 2009.

Baroness Andrews: The reduction in local authority dwelling stock results from large-scale voluntary transfers to housing associations, right to buy sales and demolitions. The increase in housing association dwelling stock results from large-scale voluntary transfers, new build and other acquisitions.
	Local authority dwelling stock is expected to reduce where further large-scale voluntary transfers are planned, as well as taking account of right to buy sales.
	Housing association dwelling stock is expected to increase where there are future large-scale voluntary transfers and the planned delivery of 75,000 social rented homes by 2007-08 most of which will be through housing associations.

Council Housing

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to the Audit Commission report Financing Council Housing and its recommendations.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Andrews: The Government are considering their response to the recent report by the Audit Commission on the housing finance system.

Council Housing

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Audit Commission report Financing Council Housing, what proportion of the 18 per cent. of housing authorities in receipt of subsidy under the national system are classed as rural authorities; and how much of the £630 million collected from the remaining 82 per cent. of housing authorities is spent on support for rural housing.

Baroness Andrews: The latest data available to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister show that 3 per cent. of the local housing authorities entitled to housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy are both classed as rural and are receiving positive HRA subsidy.
	The HRA subsidy system does not differentiate between rural and urban authorities. All local housing authorities are treated equally under the system, and receive allowances calculated under national formulae to manage and maintain their stock.

Council Housing

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Audit Commission report Financing Council Housing, whether the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting's regulations are wholly consistent with their assumption that achievement of the Decent Homes Standard will be funded from capital expenditure.

Baroness Andrews: The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting does not make regulations. Rather, it is its accounting principles and statements of operating practice that are referred to by capital finance regulations. These accounting principles and statements of operating practice are consistent with the assumption that achievement of the Decent Homes Standard will be funded from capital expenditure.

Council Housing

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Audit Commission report Financing Council Housing, whether they plan to ensure that rent income is spent locally to upgrade council housing rather than being used to subsidise housing authorities in other areas.

Baroness Andrews: There are no plans to change the fundamental principles underpinning the housing revenue account subsidy system.

Council Housing

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the statement in the Audit Commission report Financing Council Housing that "while housing rents are rising in real terms in all areas, in most areas this will not result in extra spending on services".

Baroness Andrews: Government support to local authorities for housing has already doubled and is set to rise further. There were 6 per cent. real-terms increases in management and maintenance allowances in each of the past two years. The Government are committed to making all social housing decent by 2010—including dealing with a £19 billion investment backlog. This will mean improvements to the standard of many people's homes.

Countryside Stewardship

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many farmers are still awaiting delivery of the Rural Land Registry maps to enable them to complete their applications for the entry-level scheme under Countryside Stewardship; what is the current date by which such completed applications have to be received by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and by what date they expect all maps already applied for to be delivered.

Lord Bach: Farmers and landowners can apply to join Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) at any time. With the move to monthly start dates for new agreements announced in May there are now no formal ELS application deadlines; the Rural Development Service will process applications received as soon as possible and offer the first available start date.
	By 20 July, 43,378 ELS application packs had been requested. Of these, 34,272 had been issued, 5,490 were being held pending the processing of new land registrations by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and 3,616 were held up by difficulties in printing the maps which are integral to the application process. Up to 15 July, all customers with outstanding land registrations confirmed as essential to progress an ELS application were identified to the RPA and these registrations are being processed as the agency's highest priority; it is expected that the great majority will have been completed by the end of August. We are also working hard to address the printing problems in the Genesis IT system and the backlog of maps awaiting printing is being reduced. Changes to the computer code are scheduled for mid-August, which are expected to significantly further improve the situation.

Crossrail

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated out-turn cost, including financing of Crossrail.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The parliamentary estimate of expense submitted with the Crossrail hybrid Bill estimates the cost of Crossrail to be £10.292 billion in quarter one 2002 prices. The cost will be some £15 billion or £16 billion in cash terms. Financing costs will depend on funding arrangements. We intend to bring forward proposals on the funding arrangements for Crossrail during the passage of the Bill.

Department for Education and Skills: Voluntary Bodies

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sum from the Department for Education and Skills' total expenditure was spent on voluntary bodies in 2003–04 and 2004–05; and what sums are projected to be spent in 2005–06 and 2006–07.

Lord Adonis: The Department for Education and Skills, along with other central government departments, takes part in annual research carried out by the Home Office to record the amount of funding awarded to voluntary and community organisations. For the period 2003-04, the provisional figure recorded by the Department for Education and Skills is £403 million. Provisional 2004-05 figures will be available in 2006.
	The Department for Education and Skills does not have projected spend figures for voluntary and community organisations for the periods 2005-06 and 2006-07 and to collate that information would amount to a disproportionate cost to the department.

Department for Transport: Road and Rail Cost Effectiveness

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they measure the cost effectiveness of road and rail improvements; and which improvements are typically the most cost effective.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Her Majesty's Government assess the cost effectiveness of road and rail improvements through application of the Department for Transport's new approach to appraisal (NATA) and value for money guidance. Both sets of guidance are published on the web and can be found at www.webTAG.org.uk and www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft–about/documents/page/dft–about–033477.hcsp respectively.
	The value for money of road schemes and rail schemes depends on the particular scheme in question, its effectiveness in achieving transport and other objectives, its design and its cost. Rail schemes vary considerably, as do road schemes. There is no simplistic conclusion that one mode generally performs better than the other: it varies according to the circumstances.

Department for Work and Pensions: Secondments

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many individuals are currently on secondment to the Department for Work and Pensions; in each case, what is the position held; and from which organisation or company the individual is seconded.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Complete information on the number of individuals on secondment to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is only readily available at Senior Civil Service (SCS) level. As central records are no longer collated, the number of inward secondees to DWP below SCS level could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. There are currently two people on inward secondment with DWP and its agencies at Senior Civil Service (SCS) level, as follows:
	
		
			 Position Held Organisation from 
			 Director of National   Employment Panel (SCS) Bigthoughts 
			  
			 SCS Career Management   Officer Penna Public Sector Division

Department of Health: Missing Equipment

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of (a) stolen, and (b) missing or lost equipment from Department of Health property and sites in each of the past five years.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not differentiate between stolen, missing or lost equipment. The losses recorded since 2000 are as follows.
	
		
			 Financial Year No of incidents Total Cost 
			 2000 77 £56,832 
			 2001 77 £70,500 
			 2002 81 £66,004 
			 2003 70 £56,917 
			 2004 44 £39,877

Department of Health: Secondments

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many individuals are currently on secondment to the Department of Health; in each case, what is the position held; and from which organisation or company the individual is seconded.

Lord Warner: There are 55 people currently on secondment to the Department of Health, as set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Post Seconding Organisation 
			 Senior Project Officer N Essex Ambulance NHS Trust 
			 Acting Head of ClinicalGovernance SupportTeam N Bradford PCT 
			 Head of Diabetes Policy andDevelopment Prescription Pricing Authority 
			 Nurse Adviser Hull Royal Infirmary Trust 
			 Programme manager—PhysicalActivity & Injury Prevention Dept for Culture, Media &Sports 
			 NSF Project Officer Inland Revenue 
			 Specialist Housing Officer Durham and Tees ValleyStrategic Health Authority 
			 Medical Adviser University of Sheffield 
			 Regional Associate Director NICE 
			 Senior Health ImprovementCoordinator Airedale PCT 
			 Public Health Manager Bradford District HealthDevelopment Partnerships 
			 Deputy Director Regional PublicHealth Group Stockport NHS FoundationTrust 
			 Deputy Director Regional PublicHealth Group South Sefton PCT 
			 Acting Regional Director ofPublic Health County Durham & Tees Valley SHA 
			 Deputy Regional Director ofPublic Health/Consultant inPublic Health Clinical Excellence LocalAwards 
			 Consultant in Public Health Southampton and SW Hants HA 
			 Business Manager Govt Office of SW 
			 Medical Adviser for CancerTeam Sheffield Teaching HospitalNHS Trust 
			 Capital and Delivery Adviser,Heart and Cancer Team Lewisham PCT 
			 Organisational DevelopmentManager DWP 
			 EU Presidency ProgrammeManager DWP 
			 Nursing Officer North Central London StrategicHealth Authority 
			 Senior HR Adviser CSCI 
			 Chief Press Officer NHSEngagement NHS Direct 
			 Head of Project - NHSEngagement Liverpool PCT 
			 Equality & Human Rights Modernisation Agency 
			 Policy Adviser The Royal Surrey CountyHospital NHS Trust 
			 Strategy Adviser MENBIP 
			 Health Insight Unit Project Lead Cabinet Office 
			 Strategy Adviser BMA 
			 National Clinical Director ForDiabetes Northumbria Healthcare NHSTrust 
			 National Clinical Lead ForPathology Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHSTrust 
			 National Director For PrimaryCare The Health Centre 
			 Programme Director - NHS PayReform Southampton University NHSTrust 
			 National Director For Cancer King's College London 
			 National Director For MentalHealth Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry &Nursing 
			 National Director For HeartDisease York Hospitals 
			 Chief Dental Officer King's College London 
			 Chief Executive – MHRA University of Leicester 
			 Director Of Financial SystemsReform West Yorkshire SHA 
			 National Director - WideningParticipation In Learning NHSU 
			 National Director - Older People& Neurological Conditions University Of Sheffield 
			 Director Of Research AndDevelopment Northwick Park Hospitals NHSTrust 
			 Account Manager - Recovery &Support Unit Taunton And Somerset NHSTrust 
			 Acting Regional Director OfPublic Health County Durham & Tees ValleySHA 
			 Programme Director -Organisational Review North Central London SHA 
			 National Director forModernisation Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHSTrust 
			 HR Shared Services - ProjectLead - Organisational Review North West London SHA 
			 Acting Account Manager -Recovery & Support Unit Newcastle Primary Care Trust 
			 Policy Adviser Royal Surrey County HospitalNHS Trust 
			 Project Lead - National InstituteFor Learning Skills AndInnovation Dorset And Somerset SHA 
			 Section Head Social CarePerformance PolicyDevelopment Commission for Social Care andInspection 
			 Head of PC Unscheduled CareOut of Hours Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT 
			 Director of Gateways Norfolk and Norwich HospitalsNHS Trust 
			 Deputy Branch Head of CHDProgramme and Nurse Adviser Barts and London NHS Trust

DTI: Meetings with Helen Liddell

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 29 June (WA 25–26), what subjects were discussed between each individual and the right honourable Helen Liddell; and whether a minute was taken of each meeting.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 29 June, Official Report, cols. WA25-26. In addition to the meetings held with Ministers, the Chief Scientific Adviser, and the Chief Executive of UKTI, a number of further meetings have been held with officials. It is not the department's policy to reveal the names of anybody below heads of department. All of the meetings concentrated on topics relating to Australia.
	Meeting notes were taken for the meetings held with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Chief Scientific Adviser.

DTI: Meetings with Helen Liddell

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 18 July (col. WA 186), whether they will place a copy of the meeting notes between the Secretary State for Trade and Industry, the Chief Scientific Officer and the right honourable Helen Liddell in the Library of the House.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: A copy of both notes will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Elections: Service Personnel

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many meetings have taken place between the Ministry of Defence and the Electoral Commission since the 2005 general election; and what was the outcome of any such meetings.

Lord Drayson: Two meetings have taken place, on 18 May and 5 July. The following initiatives are in hand:
	To produce a combined information leaflet and registration form. The commission will produce 300,000 copies for distribution through MoD channels to all service personnel and service families well in advance of any registration deadlines. The leaflets/forms will be distributed during September to coincide with this year's annual canvass.
	The MoD and the commission will also provide press releases and articles for MoD in-house publications and the Internet, information on the commission's website, and broadcasts via the British Forces Broadcasting Service to raise awareness of the need to register and the distribution of the information/registration leaflet. Information will be published on the department's and single-services websites.
	The MoD will re-emphasise guidance on voting options for those abroad or likely to be away from a UK address that they should consider whether to appoint a proxy.
	We believe that these initiatives will ensure that service personnel are provided with the relevant information to enable them to register to vote and choose the option which suits them best to exercise their vote.

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Bob Collins, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, applied for the post or was headhunted; what was the role of the Irish Government in securing the appointment; how many persons were interviewed for the position; and how many of these were based in Great Britain.

Lord Rooker: Mr Collins applied for the chief commissioner post and underwent the same appointments process as other candidates. The process was run in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). He was not headhunted.
	The Irish Government played no role in securing the appointment.
	Five candidates were interviewed for the Chief Commissioner post. Of those five, four were based in Northern Ireland and one, Mr Collins, was based in the Republic of Ireland.

European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will conduct a full regulatory impact assessment on the proposed European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods, prior to adoption of the regulation.

Lord Warner: The Government will update their partial regulatory impact assessment prior to adoption of the regulation. This is not expected until spring next year.

European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What communication they have had to date with the European Union Public Health Commissioner over the proposed European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods; and whether they intend to discuss this regulation with the Commissioner while the United Kingdom holds the presidency of the European Union.

Lord Warner: This proposed regulation was mentioned on 10 February when the Commissioner met my right honourable friend the then Secretary of State for Health (Dr John Reid) and my right honourable friend the then Minister of State for Health (Mr John Hutton) to discuss a number of issues concerning the UK presidency in the second half of this year. There was a similar meeting on the same day with the then chairman and deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency, when again the EU proposal on claims was one of several topics mentioned.
	The proposed regulation was more directly the subject of a telephone conversation between my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health and Commissioner Kyprianou on 2 June. It was also discussed when my honourable friend the Minister of State for Health Services (Ms Rosie Winterton) had dinner with the Commissioner that same evening.
	No negotiations are anticipated on the proposed regulation until the Second Reading stage, which is not expected to begin until towards the end of the year. There are no plans to discuss the proposal further with the Commissioner during the UK presidency of the European Union.

European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their view of the benefits of a notification system as opposed to a prior approval process for health claims under the proposed European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods; and whether they will advocate notification at second reading.

Lord Warner: The key benefit of the notification system as favoured by the European Parliament is that users of certain health claims would not have to await clearance from the Community before making a new claim for a food product. On the other hand, consumers would not have the assurance that all claims had been checked. Manufacturers would still have to prepare a scientific justification and might be required to withdraw products from the market subsequently judged to be unfounded or misleading.
	The Government's position at Second Reading will be to support proportionate controls which deliver protection from unfounded or misleading claims.

European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What benefits to public health have been identified under the proposed European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods.

Lord Warner: Besides the need to allow free movement of food products within the Community under common rules, it is important that consumers who wish to make healthy eating choices can rely on accurate, unambiguous information about the health-related characteristics of food products. The proposed regulation will improve protection from nutrition and health claims which are fraudulent or misleading.

European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they have received from the European Food Safety Authority over the criteria for prior approval of health claims under the proposed European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods.

Lord Warner: None. The authority would be required under the proposed regulation to produce guidance to applicants within six months of its adoption. It is important that early progress is made on drafting and that such guidance is proportionate to the risks from consumers being misled.

Extended Schools Initiative

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What role the voluntary sector will play in the recently announced Extended Schools Initiative; and
	What extra funding (a) per local authority and (b) per school has been earmarked for the Extended Schools Initiative; and
	What guidance they will provide to schools to help them identify voluntary sector partners as part of the Extended Schools Initiative; and whether they will consider the example of Volunteer Reading Help in this process.

Lord Adonis: We have recently announced a further £680 million to support the development of extended services in schools, in addition to the £160 million already committed for this purpose. Most of the £680 million has been allocated to local authorities, for them to distribute in the light of their strategic plans: details are set out in the attached table. Schools will also receive £250 million direct, through their normal school funding arrangements. The detailed breakdown of the £250 million for individual schools will made available in autumn 2005.
	The DfES recognises the significant role of voluntary sector and community organisations in supporting schools and local authorities (LAs) to deliver extended services. They will be key to the successful delivery of extended services and local authorities and schools will need to draw on their provision and expertise. Initial guidance for schools and LAs on partnership working with voluntary sector providers is available through the extended schools prospectus, launched on 13 June 2005. Also a "know how" leaflet entitled, Involving and Working with the Voluntary and Community Sectors, available through the extended schools website
	(www.teachernet.gov.uk/extendedschools) offers practical guidance and information on partnership working, engaging with voluntary and community organisations and useful contacts. Schools and LAs will want to consider how the strengths and good practice from voluntary organisations that they work with can benefit pupils, parents, families and the community.
	The NRT (National Remodelling Team) and ContinYou will be supporting local authorities in developing their extended services and in doing so will support them in brokering partnerships with the voluntary sector.
	There are many voluntary and community sector organisations that schools will know through their existing contacts and other partnership working, such as through education improvement partnerships (formerly know as foundation partnerships). Local authorities, through established contacts, can provide advice about wider groups, agencies and services and neighbourhood-level initiatives that are willing to work in partnership to develop extended services.

Financial Services Authority

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the reforms to the Financial Services Authority, recommended by the independent Financial Services and Markets Tribunal, will be implemented.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Financial Services Authority published the recommendations of its review of its enforcement processes on 19 July. The FSA Board has endorsed the recommendations of the review in full and the FSA will implement those which do not require changes to its handbook by the end of 2005. The FSA has also published a consultation paper seeking views on those recommendations which would require changes to the handbook. This consultation will close on 19 September. The aim is for any changes to be made by the FSA board in October.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they propose to take in the light of the finding that half of investment claims processed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme take longer than the six-month target.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The FSCS is an independent body that is accountable to the FSA. I understand that its 2005 annual report sets out a number of measures that are being taken in order to reduce waiting times. These measures include a 41 per cent. increase in staff, process streamlining and greater use of technology.

Food Safety Promotion Board

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the religious balance of the Food Safety Promotion Board, one of the cross-border implementation bodies.

Lord Rooker: The religious balance of the Food Safety Promotion Board is not recorded as none of the employees is based in Northern Ireland.

Foster Care

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of children in foster care have regular access (at least once a month) to an independent visitor.

Lord Adonis: This information is not collected centrally.

Foster Care

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they are seeking to improve the consistency of supervision of foster carers.

Lord Adonis: Under the Fostering Services Regulations 2002, fostering service providers are required to provide advice, information, training and support for foster carers. The national minimum standards require each approved foster carer to be supervised by a named and appropriately qualified social worker.
	Through the three-year Choice Protects programme, we have made available funding of £113 million to local authorities, aimed principally at supporting them in improving, expanding and strengthening their fostering services. We are also funding a number of specific initiatives to improve support and training for foster carers. These include the establishment of a national advice line, a project aimed at improving the support given to foster carers who are subject to allegations and work to improve training opportunities for foster carers.

Foundation Primary Schools

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many foundation primary schools there were in 1999; for each subsequent year, how many applications there have been for such status; whether those applications were approved by school organisation committees; and how many applications were approved on appeal to an adjudicator.

Lord Adonis: The new schools framework, which provides for schools to be community, foundation or voluntary schools, was introduced in September 1999. The first school census carried out after the introduction of the framework showed that there were 359 foundation primary schools (including middle deemed primary schools) in England in January 2000.
	Following the introduction of the new framework, schools were unable to publish proposals to change category until 1 September 2000. The table below provides details of the numbers of proposals published for primary schools to change school category to foundation, and the outcome of those proposals.
	
		
			 Yearproposalspublished Approved by SOC Rejected by SOC Approved by schools adjudicator Rejected by schools adjudicator Total 
			 2001 4 1 2 0 7 
			 2002 3 0 1 0 4 
			 2003 3 0 0 0 3 
			 2004 1 0 0 0 1 
		
	
	The department has not been informed of any proposals published in 2005 to date. All proposals where the local school organisation committee cannot reach a unanimous decision within a specified period must be referred to the schools adjudicator for decision.

Gershon Review

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they have taken to implement the recommendations of the Gershon review regarding the restructuring of Government departments.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government accepted the recommendations of Sir Peter Gershon's Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency. Efficiency targets, set out for each department in the spending review 2004 White Paper, will deliver over £20 billion in annual efficiencies by 2007-08. Budget 2005 reported that the first £2 billion of efficiency savings had already been achieved. The resources freed up by efficiency savings will be reinvested to support frontline delivery of services.
	Departmental restructuring was not an explicit objective of the Gershon review, but some departments are streamlining internal activities, such as in the provision of corporate services, in order to achieve efficiency gains. Departmental efficiency programmes are summarised in Annex C of the Gershon report, available on the Treasury website.

Government Contracts

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many contracts worth £500,000 or more were awarded by the Department of Health on a single tender basis in each of the past five years; and what were the main features of those contracts.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not hold centrally a record of individual contracts. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Government Contracts

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many contracts worth £500,000 or more were awarded by H M Treasury on a single tender basis in each of the past five years; and what were the main features of those contracts.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The only contract worth more than £500,000 awarded by the Treasury on a single tender basis in the past five years is the contract with Partnerships UK, awarded in 2001. Partnerships UK is a private sector organisation with 44.6 per cent. Treasury shareholding and a public sector mission. The framework agreement between Treasury and PUK formed part of the original vesting of PUK as a PPP in 2000 and was designed to enable PUK to continue the work of the Treasury Taskforce, which it absorbed. The framework agreement covers a broad range of PUK support work including a helpdesk free at the point of use, policy support and individual call-off arrangements for, for example, the enforcement of standardisation policy and the Refinancing Taskforce.

Government Contracts

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many contracts worth £500,000 or more were awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions on a single tender basis in each of the past five years; and what were the main features of those contracts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department for Work and Pensions has awarded no contracts worth £500,000 or more in the past five years on a single tender basis. The department uses competition to award all contracts not covered by framework agreements and to award its own framework agreements—for example the ACCORD and IT partnership agreements for IS/IT services.
	The Health and Safety Executive, which joined DWP in July 2002 as a non-departmental public body with its own accounting line to Parliament, let one contract on a single-tender basis. This was a contract awarded to the British Market Research Bureau valued at about £535,000 to conduct an extensive pilot of the Workplace Health and Safety Survey.

Government Departments: 0870 Numbers

Lord Tyler: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the recommendations of the Central Office of Information on the need to avoid using 0870 and other premium charge telephone numbers for the public to obtain official information have not been followed in the case of the number given to those seeking information about victims of the London bombing incidents.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: On 15 July, The Policing Minister (Hazel Blears) announced an urgent review of the use of 0870 numbers to contact the casualty bureau. That review has now taken place and, with immediate effect, the use of 0870 numbers will be discontinued in respect of casualty bureau access to the public.
	0800 numbers will be made available in the future as the main contact number between the Police Service Casualty Bureau and the public. 0800 freephone numbers are free at the point of use to landline customers. Charges to mobile users are based on their mobile tariff. 0800 numbers may not be accessed from overseas and an alternative 020 geographic number is therefore being provided primarily for the use of overseas callers. This number is also available to UK landline customers, including those using mobile phones who may find the charges lower than the standard rate for 0800.
	This brings telephony arrangements for the casualty bureau in line with both Ofcom and Central Office of Information guidance.

Gulf Veterans: Mortality Data

Lord Craig of Radley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 July (WS 75), whether illness and mortality data for 1990–91 have been compared with data during and immediately following the second Gulf conflict in 2003; and, if so, what conclusions they have reached.

Lord Drayson: No comparison of mortality data for the 1990-91 Gulf veterans has yet been made with mortality figures for the second Gulf conflict (Operation TELIC), although it is our intention to do so in the longer term. Statistics for Operation TELIC are still being developed and collected, but this is a complex and lengthy process: In the first instance, we plan to release mortality data for Operation TELIC in respect of serving Armed Forces personnel, and in the longer term our aim is to include those who have been discharged.

Gypsies and Travellers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any of the regional funding available for local authority and registered social landlord Gypsy sites, as mentioned by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, on 14 July (HC Deb, col. 1051), is ring-fenced; when they will issue invitations to bid for this money; and by what date applications have to be submitted.

Baroness Andrews: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced in December 2004 that funding for new Gypsy and Traveller sites would be met from the regional housing pots.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced in March 2005 that the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Grant would also be included as part of this funding from 2006-07. The funds available from the Regional Housing Pot are not ring fenced. Guidance on the process for assessing and allocating funding for Gypsy and Traveller sites will be issued in due course.

Gypsies and Travellers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will encourage local authorities in whose areas there are Gypsies living on unauthorised sites to develop official sites either alone or in partnership with a registered social landlord.

Baroness Andrews: One of the primary objectives of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's newly established Gypsy and Traveller Unit is to promote new site provision. It will be working very closely with the Government Offices in those regions which are currently experiencing high levels of unauthorised camping and unauthorised development of land by Gypsies and Travellers, in order to support and encourage local authorities and others to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers.

Gypsies and Travellers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	By what date local authorities have to produce the first housing needs assessment covering the needs of Gypsies and Travellers, under the Housing Act 2004; and whether local authorities are consulting with Gypsies and Travellers as part of this process.

Baroness Andrews: There is no set date on which the local housing needs assessments must be produced, however local authorities will be required to complete their local housing needs assessments as part of developing the evidence base for the preparation of development plan documents as part of their local development framework. The timescales for the preparation of the local development framework is set out in the authorities' local development schemes.
	The discussion paper on the local housing needs assessment process, published in March 2005, states that "it is crucial that the accommodation needs of the whole Gypsy and Traveller population are understood and that any study of accommodation requirements obtains robust data that are directly comparable to data about the rest of the population". The methodological options for assessing the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers include the use of secondary data and expert knowledge in conjunction with information obtained directly from the Gypsy and Traveller community through local housing surveys.

Gypsy and Traveller Unit

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What budget has been allocated to the Gypsy and Traveller Unit; and how this is split between London and the three regional government offices.

Baroness Andrews: A budget of some £550,000 has been allocated for the staff and related costs of the Gypsy and Traveller Unit during its first year of operation (2005-06). This budget excludes central overheads (mainly rent, rates, IT) which are managed centrally. No decision has been taken about the formal split between London and the Government Offices for the Regions.

Healthcare Commission Review

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they propose to take in response to the finding of the Healthcare Commission Review that a quarter of patients are not being seen by their general practitioner within the target time of 48 hours.

Lord Warner: The aim of the primary care access target is that everyone should be able to see a general practitioner within 48 hours, not that they may only be seen within this time frame. Latest official figures show that virtually all patients can now do so. The Healthcare Commission's findings are not directly comparable. They are based on a survey of patients earlier this year and the 25 per cent. seen outside the target timeframe include patients who chose to wait longer.
	The Government, however, accept that there is a gap between the data reported to the Department of Health by primary care trusts (PCTs) from their practices and public perception of access, as reported in patient surveys. PCTs are being encouraged to work with their practices to close that gap. A number of best practice resources are available to help PCTs and general practice to do this, including support from the national primary care trust development team and a leaflet on adopting patient-sensitive appointment systems.

Healthcare Professionals from Developing Countries

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many doctors, nurses and other staff working in the private health sector are from developing countries; and
	Whether guidelines exist for the private health sector not to recruit doctors, nurses and other staff from developing countries.

Lord Warner: Data on the number of doctors, nurses and other staff working in the private health sector from developing countries are not centrally available.
	The Department of Health has however, brokered a groundbreaking agreement for the Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals to apply to major players in the independent healthcare sector. The Independent Healthcare Forum and the Registered Nursing Home Association both endorse the code of practice
	Where national contracts are signed to increase capacity in the National Health Service, compliance with the code of practice is a contractual obligation for all independent sector providers and recruitment agencies.

Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reconsider their refusal of financial help for Mrs Sue Threakall, the widow of a haemophilia patient who died from hepatitis C infection contracted from National Health Service blood products, and grant her help equal to that she could have received if her husband's death had been caused by HIV infection by the same route and from the same source.

Lord Warner: I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by the Baroness Andrews to the Lord Morris of Manchester on 23 February 2005 at col. WA 214.

Herceptin

Lord Turnberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to ensure that Herceptin is available to treat all patients with Her2 positive breast cancer; and
	What is the average time lag between the granting of a licence to prescribe a drug and approval by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and whether a rapid approval process can be adopted for drugs, such as Herceptin, where large scale trial evidence has revealed benefits.

Lord Warner: The Government have asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to conduct an appraisal of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of Herceptin for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Herceptin is not yet licensed for early-stage breast cancer in England, and NICE cannot complete its appraisal until the drug receives its licence for this indication.
	The average length of time per year between a cancer drug being licensed since 2000 and NICE producing guidance on that drug is shown in the table. The figures include the time taken by the Department of Health to refer the topic to NICE, as well as NICE's work on each appraisal.
	
		
			 Year Pieces of Appraisal Guidance Published Average Number of Months Between Licensing Date and Publication of Guidance 
			 2000 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2002 3 19 
			 2003 3 25 
			 2004 1 35

High-Speed Rail Network

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the consequences and costs of increasing the barrier closing time from 30 seconds to 1.5 minutes for level crossings on the high speed rail network.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Neither the Department for Transport, the Health and Safety Executive nor Network Rail hold information about the likely costs involved in increasing level crossing barrier closing times to 1.5 minutes on the high-speed rail network.
	The HSE advises that increasing barrier dwell times would result in increased delays to both rail and road traffic, with an increased risk that level-crossing users would attempt to "jump" level-crossing lights and barriers in order to avoid longer delays.

HIV/AIDS: G8 and UK Funding

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they will be taking to ensure that the agreement at the G8 summit to treat all those suffering from HIV/AIDS by 2010 is fulfilled by all those countries that are party to it; and whether they plan to increase United Kingdom funding for HIV/AIDS related projects.

Baroness Amos: The G8 leaders have declared their intention to aim for as close as possible universal access to AIDS treatment to all those who need it by 2010. Limited health systems capacity is a major constraint to achieving this. Without major improvements to existing health care services, it will not be possible to scale up good quality AIDS treatment and care, including access to anti-retroviral drugs. More effective services will help remove bottlenecks in drug production and supply. They will rely on more doctors and nurses being employed, establishing reliable and accountable supply chain management and reporting systems, better efforts to promote awareness and availability of services, non-governmental organisation (NGO) mobilisation to make treatment effective, and a massive scaling up of voluntary and provider-initiated HIV testing facilities so people can find out if they need treatment. The G8 leaders have committed to working with our partners in Africa to address these needs.
	The G8 leaders have also committed to working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and other international bodies to establish the best way forward. We have asked the international bodies to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, which will firmly embed action to secure universal access to treatment by 2010 within comprehensive AIDS programmes. To begin this process the UK will be bringing together our G8 partners, with international organisations including UNAIDS, the WHO and World Bank, with some representatives of African governments and civil society in September.
	In September, there will also be other opportunities to take this forward, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings where the expansion of health services, alongside supporting more effective AIDS programmes, is a key priority. On 5 and 6 September, the UK will host the Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and at this time we will also receive feedback on the Global Task Team's work to intensify technical support to ensure the increased AIDS financing is used to best effect.
	The UK Government has already committed to spend at least £1.5 billion to tackle HIV and AIDS over the next three years, and Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development, recently announced a doubling of funding to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. The doubling, from £51 million for 2006 and £51 million for 2007 to £100 million for each of these 2 years, makes the UK the fourth largest donor to the Fund. The UK is already the second largest donor overall in the fight against AIDS.
	In addition to the UK's direct investments in AIDS, DfID is already a major donor to the health sector, including through budget support, and we will be doing more. Our support in Uganda helped the Government end user fees for basic services, and we have invested £100 million in the Malawi health service. We will learn from these and other innovative approaches and take similar steps in the countries that want our help.

HM Revenue and Customs: Spring Departmental Report

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the spring departmental report 2005 of HM Revenue and Customs is satisfactory; and whether the Report gives the information which the Attorney General undertook to provide during the passage of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The HMRC spring departmental report 2005 fully satisfies all aspects of reporting requirements as defined by H M Treasury. The report is both forward and backward looking, sets out plans and information about performance and presents a clear picture of the department's aims, activities, functions, and performance. In addition the report outlines progress against all PSA targets, and clearly explains HMRC objectives, organisation and business processes.
	The report also satisfies the reporting commitments given by Lord Goldsmith during the passage of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Bill by providing information on work preparatory to the integration, as well as future plans for HMRC's organisation and delivery plans. The further reporting commitments made by Lord Goldsmith will also be satisfied by future departmental reports over the rest of this financial year.

HM Treasury: Departmental Purchasing

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What goods or services H M Treasury purchased during 2004–05 from (a) Exchequer Partnership plc, (b) Partnerships UK plc and (c) Robson Associates, showing for each item of goods or services purchased the amount paid.

Lord Warner: I refer to the Answer given in the House of Commons on 14 July by the Financial Secretary (Mr Healey) to the honourable Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr Grayling) (column 1168W), which records the totals paid including VAT to Exchequer Partnership plc, Partnerships UK plc and Robson Associates in 2004-05. In each case a list of every item of goods or services purchased could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

HM Treasury: Secondments

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many individuals are currently on secondment to H M Treasury; in each case, what is the position held; and from which organisation or company the individual is seconded.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: There are currently 25 secondments to H M Treasury. The information requested is available on H M Treasury's website at www.hm–treasury.gov.uk/about/about–secondee.cfm.

House of Commons Medal Collection

Lord Marlesford: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Further to his Written Answer on 10 February (WA 128), whether there is now a date when the specimen of the medal issued for the 2004 Iraq operations supplied by the Army Medal Office for display in the Palace of Westminster medal collection will be displayed in the collection.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The House of Commons medal collection is a matter for the authorities of the House of Commons, but I understand that the medal will be on display by the time both Houses return in October.

House of Lords: Cleaning Contracts

Lord Whitty: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Which Committee of the House and which officers of the House are responsible for the award of cleaning contracts; and whether cleaners' wages and conditions form part of the negotiation of such contracts.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The House Committee exercises general oversight of financial matters relating to the House. Cleaning contracts, like other contracts, are usually awarded by boards on which staff from different departments sit as appropriate. In the case of the cleaning contract between Mitie and the two Houses of Parliament, negotiations were led by the House of Commons, and representatives from Black Rod's Office and the Refreshment Department sat on the board.
	The House takes steps to ensure that those tendering for contracts operate in compliance with all relevant legislation; otherwise cleaners' wages and conditions are not a negotiated part of the contract.

Housing: South-East England

Lord Trefgarne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number of new homes to be built in the south-east of the United Kingdom over the next 20 years.

Baroness Andrews: Regional planning guidance for the south-east (RPG9) provides for over 29,500 additional dwellings a year in the south-east until 2016. The amount is being reviewed through the statutory planning system; the South-East England Regional Assembly is preparing a draft south-east plan, which will ultimately replace existing policy in RPG9.

Identity Cards

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much public money has been spent to date on the identity card scheme.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government announced their intention to introduce legislation for an identity cards scheme in November 2003 following a six month consultation exercise. In preparation £19 million has been spent since the start of the 2003 financial year and the end of June 2005. A further £1.61 million has been spent on trials.

Identity Cards

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any consultants have been employed to date to work on the identity card scheme; if so, whom; and how much public money has been spent on such consultancy work.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Identity Cards Programme appointed PA Consulting as a delivery partner in June 2004 to provide services which include technical requirements, design of the scheme and resilience and security. Committed spend in relation to PA Consulting (as at end of May 2005) was £12,016,638.
	The Identity Cards Programme has used the services of a number of other consulting companies and I attach a table below showing the details of the contract as well as the value of the contract.
	
		Details of contracts let by Home Office Identity Cards Programme
		
			 Contractor Details of contract Start date End Date Value 
			 Sirius consortium (Fujitsu Services Ltd and Global Crossing Ltd and PWC) Advice on feasibility and costs September 2002 March 2003 £183,648  
			 SchlumbergerSema (Atos Origin) Programme and project management advice September 2003 September 2003 £56,000  
			 CESG Communications Electronic Security Group Provision of advice on information security August 2004 March 2005 £7,159.40  
			 Atos Origin IT Services UK Ltd Establishing and running the UKPS biometric trial and research work into preventing duplicate enrolment October 2003 May 2005 £1,079,261.84  
			 Shreeveport Management Consultancy Facilitation of workshops and core proposition development January 2004 March 2004 £43,250  
			 Axon Group PIc Proposals relating to human resources March 2004 April 2004 £28,766  
			 Cornwell Management Consultants plc Assessment of potential public sector delivery partners March 2004 May 2004 £47,548  
			 Office of Government Commerce Provision of advice and support on benefits management and other commercial issues September 2004 To end ofprocurement £ 12,268.53 to date(all prior to July2004 including in2003).  
			 Partnerships UK Provision on advice on partnerships and commercial issues September 2004 To end ofprocurement £23,755 committedto date  
			 Alan Hughes Consultancy services acting as chair of independent assurance panel February 2005 February 2006 (with option to extend) £20,000 per annum

Identity Cards

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What biometric details are included in (a) passports, and (b) identity cards (where issued), of each country in the European Union.

Lord Triesman: (a) At present, no EU member state includes biometric identifiers in its passports. However, Council Regulation (EC) No.2252/2004 of 13 December 2004, on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by member states, provides for member states to include in their passports a digital photograph and two fingerprints.
	(b) As far as we are aware, Portugal and Italy are currently the only countries to use biometric identifiers (in both cases fingerprints) on national ID cards.

Illegal Immigrants

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish their plan to remove the 350,000 to 500,000 persons they estimate to be in the United Kingdom illegally.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure of the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case. Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally the Home Office published a report which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. It should be noted that the report included an estimate, not an accurate or definitive figure. In February 2005, we published a five-year strategy for asylum and immigration, Controlling Our Borders: making migration work in Britain, which sets out plans for removing those illegally residing in the UK. The strategy sets out plans to ensure that by the end of 2005, the monthly rate of removals exceeds the number of unfounded applications so that we can begin to deal with the backlog.
	A copy of Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001 can be found at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/June–summaries.html.
	A copy of the five-year strategy can be found at www.archive2.official–documents.co.uk/document/cm64/6472/6472.htm.

Illegal Immigrants

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their estimates of the number of persons illegally in the United Kingdom relate only to heads of households or include dependants.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The estimates of the size of the unauthorised (illegal) population contained in RDS online report 29/05, Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001, includes foreign-born dependents.

International Criminal Court

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, where a charge which might fall within the competence of the International Criminal Court against a member of the British Armed Forces has been dismissed by the military justice process, they foresee a possible need to reopen the charge in the civil courts in order to satisfy the criterion that the International Criminal Court does not have jurisdiction where the case has been properly addressed by the domestic legal system with jurisdiction in respect of the prospective accused.

Lord Triesman: No, there is no such need.

Iraq: C130 Hercules Crash

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence has completed the investigation into the cause of the loss of the C130 Hercules and its crew in Iraq on 30 January; and, if so, what were the findings.

Lord Drayson: As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence indicated in another place on 7 July 2005, (Official Report, col. 473) the board of inquiry continues to work to determine the cause of this tragic event.

Iraq: Development Fund

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking on the irregularities concerning the Development Fund for Iraq reported by the auditors KPMG.

Lord Triesman: The latest report by the Independent Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) is based on audit reports by external auditor (KPMG) of activities relating to the Development Fund of Iraq (DFI), covering the period 29 June 2004 to 31 December 2004.
	Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, Iraq has sole control over its financial assets and the DFI and how they are managed. The IAMB continues to monitor Iraqi management of the DFI to ensure transparency and that DFI funds are used to benefit the Iraqi people.
	The UK continues to study the detailed points made in the KPMG report. We are continuing our support to improve transparency and accountability of public financial management in Iraq through Department for International Development-funded technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance.

Irish Language Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 19 July (WA 214), who has been consulted about the relocation of the headquarters of the Irish Language Agency; and on what date.

Lord Rooker: Consultations on this matter are ongoing between the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Foras na Gaeilge.

Level 3 Qualifications

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their estimates of the total number of (a) officially recognised level 3 qualifications awarded nationally, and (b) level 3 qualifications awarded by further education university access courses to students (i) of all ages, and (ii) aged 17 in each year since 1985 to 2004, and of the separate numbers of A-level equivalents of each such qualification that comprise these totals.

Lord Adonis: The numbers of awards of accredited level 3 qualifications by broad qualification type in each year since 1991-92—the earliest for which figures are available on a roughly comparable basis—are shown in the table below.
	
		Total awards of level 3 qualifications by broad qualification type and year of award: England 1
		
			  GCE A/AS levels 2   VCE A/AS levels   Advanced GNVQ   NVQ 31  
			  Aged 17 Total Aged 17 Total Aged 17 Total Aged 17 Total 
			 1991–92 424,000 554,700  11,800 
			 1992–93 432,500 568,300  16,200 
			 1993–94 446,400 582,900   100 1,500  25,100 
			 1994–95 460,200 584,900   3,800 10,900  48,700 
			 1995–96 490,900 608,100   11,100 29,900  63,800 
			 1996–97 539,900 655,700   15,200 31,900  90 300 
			 1997–98 565,500 678,900   18,400 39,300 4,400 90,500 
			 1998–99 567,500 682,900   19,400 41,800 3,900 88,900 
			 1999–2000 566,000 681,000   21,000 43,800 3,500 96,600 
			 2000–01 632,900 1,310,200 2,100 8,600 22,400 37,200 2,400 90,200 
			 2001–02 683,300 1,362,000 39,100 67,800   2,000 85,400 
			 2002–03 710,700 1,425,700 41,800 74,800   2,100 85,200 
			 2003–04 720,900 1,441,600 43,200 77,700   2,100 100,900 
		
	
	Source:
	School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables (SCAAT), National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ), Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
	Notes:
	1 NVQ figures prior to 1997–98 include Northern Ireland and Wales
	2 GCE A/AS level figures include general studies
	The department also collects information on accredited Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs) from some awarding bodies. The numbers of known awards of VRQs at level 3 are shown in the table below. Note that the coverage is incomplete and the numbers in the table do not represent all VRQ awards. Furthermore, the coverage is not consistent between years. The numbers should be treated with caution.
	
		Known VRQ awards at level 3 by year: England
		
			  Aged 17 Total 
			 2001-02 900 11,800 
			 2002-03 3,200 45,100 
			 2003-04 22,600 125,100 
		
	
	Source: NISVQ
	The number of awards of university access course certificates accredited by the higher education Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in each year since 1996-97 are shown in the table below. Neither the department, nor the QAA, holds figures for earlier years. The figures come from an aggregate collection and so cannot be split by age. However, very few of those taking university access courses will be aged 17 or under.
	
		Certificates awarded by Authorised Validating Agencies (AVAs) on QAA-recognised access to HE courses
		
			 Year Certificates awarded 
			 1996-97 13,500 
			 1997-98 14,900 
			 1998-99 15,300 
			 1999-00 17,200 
			 2000-01 16,400 
			 2001-02 17,100 
			 2002-03 18,400 
			 2003-04 19,600 
		
	
	Source: QAA

LM Glasfiber

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 14 July (WA 180), what was the subsequent outcome of the contact between officials of the Department of Trade and Industry's renewables team, UK Trade and Investment's inward investment group, the British Embassy in Copenhagen and employees of LM Glasfiber, including (a) what offers of support, financial or otherwise, were made to the organisation and (b) whether LM Glasfiber sited a manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: LM Glasfiber received information from the north-east and north-west regions of England on potential sites. LM Glasfiber has not set-up a manufacturing facility in the UK.

Looked-after Children

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that all councils are aware of the number of looked-after children in their area.

Lord Adonis: Under Regulation 10 of the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991 No. 890), local authorities must ensure that they keep a register of every child placed in their area (either by them or another authority). Under Regulation 5, local authorities must notify a range of bodies in writing of the arrangements for placing a child before the placement is made, including—where the child is being placed outside the authority—the local authority for that area. Where it is not practicable to do so before the placement, the notification must be arranged as soon as reasonably practicable afterwards.
	The Government are aware that these regulations are not always strictly followed. That is why the Government intend to issue further guidance on out-of-authority placements for looked after children in the autumn.

Looked-after Children

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they maintain a register of people, other than the child's parents, who look after children; and, if so, what guidelines are presented to individuals on the register to make them aware of child protection issues.

Lord Adonis: There is no central register of people who look after other people's children.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether arrangements are in place to ensure that when the Prime Minister's Strategy Adviser, the Lord Birt, meets clients of McKinsey and Company Incorporated, any potential conflict of interest is avoided.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Lord Birt's letter of appointment sets out the arrangements for the handling of any potential conflicts of interests. A copy of the letter is available, in the Library.

Lord Birt

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the letter of 5 October 2001 published by the Cabinet Office setting out the terms of the Lord Birt's contract as the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, who are the members of the steering groups for the Birt reviews of transport, education and health referred to in the letter.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: These were internal groups chaired by Lord Birt with members drawn from across a number of departments.

Lord Birt

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the letter of 5 October 2001 published by the Cabinet Office setting out the terms of the Lord Birt's contract as the Prime Minister's Strategy Adviser, whether McKinsey and Company, or any employee or consultant of McKinsey and Company, (a) serviced, (b) gave evidence or (c) was asked to provide a submission or advice to any of the Birt reviews of transport, education and health referred to in the letter.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Nick Lovegrove, who was employed by McKinsey's at the time, was one of the external independent advisers working with the Forward Strategy Unit (FSU), and provided advice to government as appropriate.

Lord Birt

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Lord Birt has met the Director General of MI5 in his capacity as the Prime Minister's Strategy Adviser.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Lord Birt has meetings with a wide range of organisations in his role as the Prime Minister's unpaid adviser.

Lord Birt

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, since his appointment as the Prime Minister's Strategy Adviser, the Lord Birt has met any official or employee of Ofcom acting in an official capacity.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Lord Birt has meetings with a wide range of organisations in his role as the Prime Minister's unpaid adviser.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 11 July (WA 125), whether they will publish a list of those government papers that the Lord Birt has had access to in order to fulfil his remit as the Prime Minister's Strategy Adviser.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Lord Birt's letter of appointment sets out that he is bound by the Official Secrets Act. A copy of the letter is available in the Libraries of the House.

Maldives

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Maldives should continue to be classified as a middle income country, given that this re-classification occurred before the tsunami.

Baroness Amos: There are a number of different ways in which countries are classified. Under the UN country classification the Maldives is a least developed country due to its vulnerability as a small island state, though it is due to graduate from this status after a three-year transition period. Under the World Bank classification the Maldives is a lower middle income country (LMIC). Both sets of classifications are reviewed regularly, though not since the tsunami struck last December.
	The joint needs assessment for the Maldives, made in consultation with the government of the Maldives and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), estimated the impact of the tsunami on the economy. Although overall economic growth has decelerated to about 1 per cent. this year, it estimated that the per capita GDP will be $2,800 in 2005, which is well above the threshold for a lower middle income country, and the economy is recovering well.
	Humanitarian assistance to the Maldives in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami was based on need rather than country classification. DfID provided £1.6 million towards the humanitarian and recovery effort directly following the tsunami. We have also contributed to the financing of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The World Bank has provided US$14 million in financial support to the Maldives reconstruction and recovery programme, while the Asian Development Bank is providing assistance of $20 million in grants to help reconstruction and rehabilitation. We are now working to encourage the EC to allocate more funding to the Maldives for reconstruction.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the United Kingdom-based operation of McKinsey and Company Incorporated is currently carrying out work for the Northern Ireland Office; and, if so (a) how many projects the firm has carried out for the office in each of the past five years; (b) for each project, how long such work lasted and how many McKinsey employees were involved; (c) what was the nature of the contracts with the department; and (d) what was the total value of payments made by the department to the company in each of the past five years.

Lord Rooker: The United Kingdom-based operation of McKinsey and Company Incorporated is not currently carrying out work for the Northern Ireland Office. The Northern Ireland Office has had no contracts with the company in each of the past five years.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Cabinet Office Ministers have (a) attended; and (b) spoken at conferences and seminars organised or held by McKinsey and Company Incorporated in each of the past five years; and what were the circumstances in which such Ministers spoke or attended.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: According to available records no Cabinet Office Ministers have attended or spoken at conferences or seminars organised or held by McKinsey in an official capacity since the end of October 2003.
	It is not possible to provide information prior to this date.

McKinsey and Co: Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list all items of correspondence between the Prime Minister's Private Office and McKinsey and Company Incorporated since January 2001 relating to the Prime Minister's Strategy Adviser, the Lord Birt.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: There has been no such correspondence.

Medical Research: Records

Lord Walton of Detchant: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Where records of a patient who has given valid consent to participation in a long-term research project, and who dies unexpectedly, will subsequently be stored; for how long; and how they can be retrieved.

Lord Warner: Responsibility for retaining clinical research records, and for third-party access to them, rests with the chief researcher.
	The Department of Health issued guidance in 1999—HSC 1999/053: For the record—managing NHS records in NHS trusts and health authorities. This includes information on retaining health records of patients, including those who have died, and access to these records. The guidance has been reviewed recently. It is proposed that it be replaced by a code of practice to help the NHS meet its legal obligations in managing records. Further information is available on the department's website atwww.dh.gov.uk.
	In 2000 the Medical Research Council (MRC) issued guidance—Personal Information in Medical Research. It suggests that research records relating to clinical or public health studies should be retained for between 20 and 30 years. The publication is on the MRC's website at www.mrc.ac.uk.
	Records relating to data from clinical trials involving medicines are covered by legislation. The minimum time limit is currently two years after a trial is finished (and will rise to five years when Commission Directive 2005/28/EC is transposed into UK law) with no upper time limit. The period of retention depends on the nature of the clinical trial. Further details are in Commission Directive 2003/63/EC and CPMP/ICH/135/95.

Mental Health Services

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the level of funding provided by the Department of Health for mental health services in England and Wales for 2002, 2003 and 2004; and of that funding how much was earmarked for post-discharge care for mental health patients in the community.

Lord Warner: In 2002-03, £75 million additional revenue funding was provided specifically for mental health services. None of this amount was earmarked for post-discharge care for mental health patients in the community.
	Of the allocations made to primary care trusts for 2003-04 to 2005-06, none of the growth money has been identified for specific purposes. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.
	In Wales, the National Assembly for Wales allocates funds to local health bodies for them to spend according to their assessment of local health needs. There is no earmarking of funds for mental health.

Mental Health: Suicide Risk Assessment

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What statutory guidance is made available by the Department of Health to Mental Health Trusts in England and Wales for suicide risk assessment conducted before a patient with mental health problems who has not been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 is discharged into the community.

Lord Warner: Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for Mental Health Services, published in 2003 by the National Institute of Mental Health in England, provides guidance to help mental health services in England measure systematically the extent to which they are addressing the recommendations of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness report Safety First, and includes advice on post-discharge prevention of suicide.
	The Welsh Assembly Government have issued policy implementation guidance relating to the care programme approach that advises services of the need for thorough assessment prior to discharge into the community and for effective follow up and support services after discharge as this is a time of elevated risk.

Middle East: Women's Rights

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to encourage the promotion of women's rights in the Middle East.

Lord Triesman: In addition to our bilateral dialogue and sponsored visit and scholarship programmes for women in the Middle East, we have increased our project support. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Global Opportunities Fund is, for example, supporting a women's rights ombudsman's office in Egypt, campaigning skills training for Kuwaiti women activists, a women's empowerment project in Morocco and women in democracy projects in Bahrain and Jordan. Through our G8 presidency, we are supporting the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative's Democracy Assistance Dialogue, which held its first meeting in Turkey last month on women's issues. On the EU track, we are supporting a series of workshops for women to feed recommendations into the future programme of the Barcelona Process ahead of the 10th Anniversary Barcelona Process Summit in November.

Middle East: Women's Rights

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to encourage the United States to work co-operatively to promote women's rights in the Middle East, in particular with Saudi Arabia.

Lord Triesman: We work closely with the US, including through our embassies in Saudi Arabia and through our joint co-operation on the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative to promote reform. We are encouraging the Saudi Government to improve women's rights, particularly to allow women's suffrage. Both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Engaging with the Islamic World programme and the US Middle East Partnership Initiative have women's pillars that fund regional projects in support of women, including of Saudi women.

Motorcyclists: Offences

Earl Peel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many fixed penalty notices were issued in England and Wales in each of the past five years to motorcyclists for (a) inappropriate or excessive speeding; (b) the use of illegal number plates; and (c) the fitting of illegal noisy exhaust systems; and
	How many and what proportion of offences committed by motorcyclists for (a) inappropriate or excessive speeding; (b) the use of illegal number plates; and (c) the fitting of illegal noisy exhaust systems were dealt with by (i) a fixed penalty notice; (ii) a magistrates' court; (iii) a Crown Court; or (iv) other means, in England and Wales in each of the past five years.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: This information is not held centrally.

National Firearms Licensing Management System

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who is responsible for the implementation of the National Firearms Licensing Management System in the Police Information Technology Department of the Home Office; how long the individual responsible has been in post; and what are the individual's qualifications; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 21 June (WA 163), whether the National Firearms Licensing Management System went live on 11 July; if not, when it did so; and by what date they expect it will be ready for use by polices forces throughout England and Wales; and
	Which polices forces in England and Wales have (a) completed; (b) started; (c) not yet started; or (d) refused to start to prepare their records of firearm licensing for use with the National Firearms Licensing Management System, as required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 13 June (WA 104) concerning the National Firearms Licensing Management System, who has been selected as the supplier under the scope of work.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Police Information and Technology Organisation is a non-departmental public body and as such is responsible for the allocation of staffing and associated responsibilities for implementing any particular project.
	Load and performance testing took place as planned in preparation for the live (Beta) pilot which was due to commence on 11 July 2005, I understand from PITO that the criteria were not achieved during this phase of testing and that regrettably the live pilot has had to be postponed. This issue is being urgently investigated and the supplier is confident of reaching a speedy resolution. However, because of the ensuing delay, it has been decided that it will not be rescheduled until the autumn when staffing levels in force Firearms departments will be more resilient.
	All forces in England and Wales have started to prepare their records for use with the NFLMS.
	The proposed audit of force local area networks is being taken forward separately from the implementation of NFLMS as part of a wider review of police networking requirements.

National Insurance Contributions

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage and number of working age adults (by gender) they estimate will be paying national insurance in 2010 and in 2020 because they will be above the lower tax threshold.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The estimates for working age adults who earn over the lower tax threshold (primary threshold or lower profits limit) and hence pay Class 1 or Class 4 NICs in 2010 and 2020 are:
	
		
			 Great Britain average numbers per week 
			 Gender 2010–11 2020–21 
			 Number Millions 
			 Men 14.50 14.75 
			 Women 10.80 12.00 
			 Percentage of working age population 
			 Men 75.3 76.1 
			 Women 61.5 61.7   
		
	
	The estimates have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) and are for Great Britain only. Northern Ireland has an independent national insurance fund.
	The estimates are based on the 2003-based population projections and define working age population to be all people aged 16 to state pension age.
	The number of women includes women opting to pay at the reduced rate. The estimated number of female contributors increases significantly between 2010 and 2020 due to the rise in state pension age for women.

National Insurance Contributions

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage and number of working age adults (by gender) they estimate in 2010 and in 2020 will be (a) economically inactive and (b) in full time education and not eligible for the accrual of national insurance either by payment or credit.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) estimates of the percentage and number of economically inactive working-age adults in 2010 and 2020, are shown in the table. Similar estimates for those in full-time education are not available.
	
		Great Britain, Economically Inactive
		
			  Gender 2010–11 2020–21 
			 Number Millions Men 3.45 3.50 
			  Women 4.45 5.15 
			   
			 Percentage of working age 
			 population Men 18.0per cent 18.0per cent 
			  Women 25.4per cent 26.4per cent 
		
	
	The estimates are based on the 2003-based population projections and define working age population to be all people aged 16 to state pension age.
	The increase in the estimated number of working-age economically inactive females between 2010 and 2020 is due to the rise in state pension age for women. The trend for this group would have followed the similar pattern to that of males between the two years had the effect from raising the state pension age for women been excluded.

National Statistician: Appointment Process

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When applications for the new National Statistician will be invited; whether external consultants will be involved; if so, whether they have yet been appointed; and whether the Statistics Commission will be consulted on the terms of reference and process of selection.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The recruitment of the next National Statistician will be carried out in accordance with standard Civil Service practice. Advertisements were placed in the 10 June edition of the Economist and the 12 June Sunday Times, with a deadline of 30 June. The recruitment process is being administered by the executive recruitment company Whitehead Mann. The appointment will be made by the Prime Minister following the recommendation of a selection panel, which has four members including an independent chair and only one government representative.

Network Rail

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of Network Rail's £21 billion of debts has been underwritten by the Government.

Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer the noble Lord to the departmental minute laid in the House by the Secretary of State for Transport on 25 July. This informs Parliament of changes to the contingent liabilities arising from government support for Network Rail's borrowing.

NHS Dentistry

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average take-home pay for an English dentist with a predominantly National Health Service workload, taking into account practice expenses.

Lord Warner: Information on private working of National Health Service dentists is not routinely available.
	The average annual payment in 2003–04 to General Dental Service (GDS) dentists was £150,000 to dentists with a reasonable commitment to the GDS. Dentists with a reasonable commitment are defined as dentists earning at least £57,300 in fees for treatments and patient capitation. Average expenses in 2003–04 for GDS dentists were estimated to be £83,300, resulting in an estimated average net income of £66,700— estimated to be £69,000 in 2004-05.
	The payment figures cover both fees for treatments and patient capitation as well as other payments such as seniority payments and commitment payments and payments for maternity and sickness.

NHS Dentistry

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the annual costs of the Keeping in Touch scheme; and how this scheme differs from the Returning to Dentistry campaign.

Lord Warner: The total cost of the Keeping in Touch scheme (KITs) from April 2004–March 2005 was £196,919.17, covering grants to KIT scheme members, salaries and administration costs. In 2004–05, 78 individual dentists returned to work, equating to 45 whole time equivalents.
	The KIT scheme is aimed at United Kingdom dentists currently on a career break. It provides work shadowing opportunities, access to practical courses and a grant of £350 towards the cost of registration with the General Dental Council. The Returning to Dentistry campaign was aimed at dentists planning their return to dentistry and offers refresher training, work shadowing and advice on National Health Service administration. Both schemes offer access to a bursary of up to £4,000 to support resumption of NHS dental practice.

NHS Dentistry

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they propose to take in response to the finding of the Healthcare Commission Review that 58 per cent. of National Health Service dental practices are now not taking on new patients.

Lord Warner: A survey carried out by Which? estimated that 58 per cent. of National Health Service dental practices were not taking on new patients, with 42 per cent. of practices taking on new patients.
	It is difficult to analyse the results of this survey. Dentists can vary their new patient acceptance practices from day to day, for example to top up patient numbers. They may take on certain categories of patients but not others—for example, children or family members of existing patients or previous patients. They may not want to publicise their policy on accepting new patients, but are prepared to see patients who come to the surgery.
	Ninety-nine per cent of calls made to NHS Direct seeking help in finding an NHS dentist are referred to a dentist within local distance standards.
	We are currently undertaking the most far-reaching reforms of NHS dentistry since 1948, supported by the biggest investment programme in the history of NHS dentistry. We are providing NHS dentistry with extra funding of over £250 million a year from 2005-06, an increase of nearly 20 per cent. over 2003-04 levels. We are also funding an extra 170 dental training places from this October (a 25 per cent. increase), supported by £80 million capital investment. By this October, we will also have recruited the equivalent of 1,000 extra dentists.

NHS: Amputations

Lord Brightman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 7 July (WA 117), whether, in collecting information at national level of instances of wrong limb amputations, the past five years will be covered.

Lord Warner: The National Patient Safety Agency began to collect data from November 2003: All 607 trusts in England and Wales were only connected to the National Report and Learning System in December 2004. It is not therefore feasible to provide retrospective data on incidents.
	The National Patient Safety Agency published its first analysis of reported patient safety incidents, Building a memory: preventing harm, reducing risks and improving patient safety — the first report of the National Reporting and Learning System and the Patient Safety Observatory on 21 July 2005. Copies have been placed in the Library.

NHS: Junior Doctors

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking, in view of a recent survey of junior doctors by the British Medical Association, to ensure that junior doctors do not leave the National Health Service if they are unable to secure an appropriate training post as a result of the move to the new Modernising Medical Careers training system.

Lord Warner: The British Medical Association survey quoted "over a third" of the 235 respondents as not having secured, at that time, a further training post on completion of their current contract. This is a very small return to draw significant conclusions out of a total trainee doctor population of 49,000 in the United Kingdom.
	The aim of the Department of Health is to ensure there are enough doctors to deliver the high-quality services required by patients and the National Health Service. As a result the total trainee doctor population in England has risen from 30,915 in 1997 to 43,406 in 2004.
	Transition arrangements for Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) have yet to be finalised and have consequently not yet had an impact on this issue. There is no plan to reduce training opportunities as a result of MMC.

NHS: Suicides after Discharge

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many patients with mental health problems have committed suicide within 72 hours of discharge from a National Health Service hospital in England and Wales during each of the years 2002 to 2004.

Lord Warner: The number of suicides committed within 72 hours of discharge from National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales for the years 2002 and 2003 are contained in the following table. Figures for 2004 are not yet available.
	
		
			 Year of death Number of suicides within 3 days of discharge Estimated data completeness 
			 2002 27 97 per cent 
			 2003 22 88 per cent 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information has been obtained by personal communication with the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCI).
	2. Information on people who die by suicide or who receive an open verdict at a coroner's inquest is obtained from the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales. NCI then determines which suicides were in contact with mental health services in the year before death. When NCI establishes that contact occurred in the 12 months before suicide, the person becomes an "inquiry case".
	3. The third column of the table shows the percentage of completeness of NCI data (that is how close NCI are to collecting all inquiry cases in the given year).

NHS: Welfare of Children

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they ensure that National Health Service staff with responsibility for children receive regular and effective supervision

Lord Warner: Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 sets out a duty for all National Health Service organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This covers all NHS staff, not only those with direct responsibility for caring for children. Final guidance on this duty will be issued shortly.
	Guidance to the NHS, Working Together to Safeguard Children, highlights the importance of effective supervision and support for all staff working with children. We keep these issues under regular review and will shortly be consulting on an updated version.
	The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services includes a standard on safeguarding children with a section which emphasises that "high quality supervision is the cornerstone of effective safeguarding of children and young people and should be seen to operate effectively at all levels within the organisation". Safeguarding features as a recurrent theme throughout and the hospital standard states that hospital trusts' safety policies should be robust and explicitly cover children and young people.
	The Healthcare Commission reviews performance on NHS bodies' child protection procedures in the annual health check.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the salary scales of all chief executives of cross-border implementation bodies are under review; and, if so, when the review will be concluded.

Lord Rooker: A review of the salaries of North/South Implementation Bodies' CEOs and of the salary of the CEO of Tourism Ireland Limited was undertaken in 2003. While there are no plans for any further salary reviews, the 2003 review provided for annual uplifts as in the case of other public bodies. Consequently scales will be adjusted accordingly.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 19 July (WA 213), whether the six implementation bodies established by the United Kingdom and Ireland are required to maintain a religious balance among their employees reflecting the balance in Northern Ireland or Ireland as a whole, or reflecting the balance in the particular area where their offices are located.

Lord Rooker: The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 requires employers to review, at least once every three years, the composition of their workforces and their employment practices for the purpose of determining whether members of each community are enjoying, and are likely to continue to enjoy, fair participation in their employment. The order applies to the North/South Implementation Bodies in relation to their employees in Northern Ireland.
	The order does not impose a requirement on an employer that the composition of its workforce shall reflect the balance of Protestants and Roman Catholics in the population of Northern Ireland as a whole. What is fair participation will depend on all relevant factors relating to an employer, including its location. The noble Lord is referred to the provisions of the Fair Employment in Northern Ireland code of practice in relation to fair participation, copies of which are available in the Library.

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 19 July (WA 220) concerning funding of Ulster Scots culture, what they mean by "due respect".

Lord Rooker: The Government remain committed to affording both respect and recognition to Ulster Scots and the Irish language.

Northern Ireland Civil Service

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 19 July (WA 220) about recruitment to the Northern Ireland Civil Service, what is the "merit principle"; and how it operates.

Lord Rooker: Appointments to the Northern Ireland Civil Service are made against the statutory backdrop of the Civil Service Commissioners (NI) Order 1999, which requires appointments to be made in accordance with the merit principle. The new commissioners' recruitment code identifies four principles which underpin the concept of recruitment on the basis of merit. These are:
	Appointments should be made on merit;
	Appointment processes should be fit for purpose;
	Appointment processes should be fair and applied with consistency; and
	Appointments should be made in an open, accountable and transparent manner.

Northern Ireland Civil Service

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 19 July (WA 221) concerning promotions in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, what is meant by "substantive promotions".

Lord Rooker: Substantive promotion means a permanent promotion to a higher grade as opposed to a temporary promotion or a deputising arrangement, which are used to cover short-term vacancies, for example absences due to sick leave, annual leave etc.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have decided to fill the vacancy for chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; if so, when they made this decision; when they notified the successful candidate; and when they intend to announce their decision.

Lord Rooker: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland gave a Written Statement to the House on Thursday 16 June, announcing the appointment of Professor Monica McWilliams as Chief Commissioner to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
	Information relating to the date a particular decision was taken is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
	It is not government practice to disclose information relating to the date when the decision was taken and when the successful candidates were notified.
	We do not intend to change this practice.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have decided to fill the commissioner vacancies on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; if so, when they made this decision; when they notified the successful candidates; and when they intend to announce their decision.

Lord Rooker: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland gave a Written Statement to the House on Thursday 16 June, announcing the appointment of the following commissioners to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission:
	Jonathan Bell Thomas Duncan Professor Colin Harvey Alan Henry Ann Hope Eamonn O'Neill Geraldine Rice
	It is not government practice to disclose information relating to the date when the decision was taken and when the successful candidates were notified.
	We do not intend to change this practice.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding the posts of chief commissioner and commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, how many candidates applied for the posts; how many were shortlisted for interview; who interviewed them; and how many were appointed as commissioners.

Lord Rooker: There were two separate application processes for chief commissioner, as the panel could not recommend an appointment at the end of the first process.
	In the first process, 14 candidates applied to be chief commissioner and five candidates met the criteria to the degree required to be shortlisted for interview.
	In the second process, 16 candidates applied to be chief commissioner and five candidates met the criteria to the degree required to be shortlisted for interview.
	In the application process for commissioner posts, 164 candidates applied. 87 candidates met the criteria to the degree required to be shortlisted for interview.
	Interview Panel:
	Chief Commissioner (first process): Sir Joseph Pilling (Northern Ireland Office); Chris Sidoti (independent human rights expert); Margaret Elliott (independent panellist); John Keanie (independent assessor).
	Chief Commissioner (second process): David Watkins (retired civil servant); Chris Maccabe (Northern Ireland Office—replaced Chris Sidoti at short notice for family reasons); Margaret Elliott (independent panellist); John Keanie (independent assessor).
	Commissioner: Chris Maccabe (Northern Ireland Office); Chris Sidoti (independent human rights expert); Margaret Elliott (independent panellist); John Keanie (independent assessor).
	Appointed:
	Chief Commissioner: 1
	Commissioners: 7

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis recent appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission reflect the community in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The appointments process for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was conducted in line with the code of practice of the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). Candidates were judged appointable on merit.
	The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has a statutory duty, as far as practicable, to secure that the commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is content that he has done so.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they give to the recently appointed Chief Commissioner for Human Rights in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body and its functions are set by Section 69 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
	The human rights and equality unit in the Northern Ireland Office supports the commission in fulfilling those functions that require the commission to consult, inform or advise the Secretary of State, in accordance with statute.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they interpret the term "merit" as used in the appointment of members to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Lord Rooker: The appointments process for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was run in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) guidelines.

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 22 June (WA 179) concerning the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, whether an individual determines his own community background.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My Written Answer of 22 June (Official Report, col. WA 179) indicated that the Court Service press release dated 14 June 2005 was based on information provided by the members of the commission.

Northern Ireland: Belfast Security Barriers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What form the review on the removal of the security barriers at Chichester Street, Belfast, is taking; why it has been prolonged; and whether, pending the outcome of the review, they have any plans to make Upper Ann Street two-way enabling traffic for east Belfast to exit the city centre via a shorter route.

Lord Rooker: The security barrier in Chichester Street, Belfast which the noble Lord refers to is not a named barrier for consideration under the ongoing removal of town centre barriers review by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and therefore the NIO is not in a position to comment further on this matter.

Northern Ireland: Child Death Review Protocol

Baroness Blood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5 July 2004 (WA 57), what progress has been made on the development of a regional child death protocol in Northern Ireland; and what is the timescale for the publication of the consultation document.

Lord Rooker: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is currently considering a draft child death review protocol produced by a working group established under the auspices of the southern area board, area child protection committee. Departmental officials are liaising closely with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office on the completion of a protocol for pathologists, which will form part of or will inform the current draft child death review protocol.
	The department has arranged to meet with key stakeholders in early October 2005 to agree the formal consultation arrangements for the child death review protocol, by which time it is anticipated that the protocol for pathologists will have been finalised.

Northern Ireland: Funding for Nationalist and Unionist Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applications for funding the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has received this year for activities related to the annual 12 July celebrations; how many were accepted; how many were rejected; and for what reason.

Lord Rooker: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure received two applications for funding of activities related to the 2005 12 July celebrations, both of which were accepted. In addition, the Ulster-Scots Agency received nine applications for Ulster-Scots elements of 12 July celebrations, all of which were accepted.

Northern Ireland: Funding for Nationalist and Unionist Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure received (a) the applications, and (b) the business cases for funding festivals in West Belfast, New Lodge Road and Ardoyne in 2004; when they were agreed; and whether they will place copies of those documents in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Festival Application Received Additional business information requested Additional business information received Letter of offer issued 
			 Féile an Phobail 26 May 25 June 14 July 21 July 
			   
			 Greater New Lodge 3 June 25 June 6 July 20 July 
			   
			 Ardoyne Fleadh 3 June 25 June 6 July 20 July 
		
	
	I have arranged for copies of the applications and additional business information provided by the three festivals to be placed in the Library of the House.

Northern Ireland: Funding for Nationalist and Unionist Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to reorganise the method of allocating funding for festivals in Northern Ireland; if so, when the process will start; and when it will conclude.

Lord Rooker: Departments are continuing to work towards the establishment of more cohesive, less fragmented arrangements for the funding of festivals, and plan to consult on these by the autumn of this year. It is therefore anticipated that new arrangements will be in place in time for 2006 festivals.

Northern Ireland: Funding for Nationalist and Unionist Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a sum of money was set aside for the annual 12 July celebrations activity in 2005 by the Northern Ireland Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure; if so, how much was the sum; how it was calculated; and what percentage it represented of the total funding for festivals in Northern Ireland.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure provided £48,092 for activities associated with the annual 12 July celebrations in 2005: £28,165 directly and £19,927 via the Ulster-Scots Agency. All requests for funding were supported by business cases and/or application forms. The total funding for festivals in 2005 is not known.

Northern Ireland: Organised Crime

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they estimate to be the total value of organised crime in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998; and what value they estimate for (a) fuel processing and smuggling; (b) drugs trafficking; and (c) illegal disposal of dangerous waste.

Lord Rooker: (a) Fuel smuggling
	HM Revenue and Customs does not have an estimate of the total value of fuel laundering (processing) and smuggling in Northern Ireland. It estimates that the use of non-UK duty paid fuel in Northern Ireland, resulting from a combination of such frauds and legitimate cross-border shopping, has been as follows:
	
		
			 Year Revenue Loss (£ million) 
			 2000 385 
			 2001 360 
			 2002 335 
			 2003 350 
		
	
	No estimates of revenue loss are available for 1998 and 1999.
	(b) Drugs trafficking
	An estimate of the total value of drug trafficking in NI would need considerable research, which would incur disproportionate cost. However, the published seizure figures for each year are as follows:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
			 1998-99 7 
			 1999-2000 11.4 
			 2000-01 l0 
			 2001-02 6.5 
			 2002-03 11 
			 2003-04 15.1 
			 2004-05 9.5 
		
	
	(c) Illegal disposal of dangerous waste
	It is estimated that over 250,000 tonnes of municipal waste from the Republic of Ireland have been illegally deposited in Northern Ireland. These would have a conservative cost of between £12.5 million and £31 million to be disposed at legal sites, and large profits would be made in avoiding these costs.
	Smuggling waste from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland has only been perceived to be a significant problem within the past three years, and any involvement by organised crime would be unlikely to much predate this.

Northern Ireland: Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Rooker on 6 July (WA 106–107) and 13 July (WA 152), whether the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland will take comparative conviction costs into account when examining the performance and effectiveness of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The information to allow comparisons of conviction costs when examining the performance and effectiveness of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is not readily available.

Northern Ireland: Policing

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the police commander in the east Belfast district command unit is required to seek authority for the deployment of police and military assets in the Short Strand; if so, from whom; under what circumstances such authority would be sought; and what would be the timescale between seeking such authority and the deployment of police and military assets on the ground.

Lord Rooker: The district commander retains full operational control over the deployment of resources in all parts of the DCU.
	He will take account of the views and needs of all residents in the DCU, and deploys resources in a manner that seeks to provide an effective police service throughout east Belfast.

Northern Ireland: St Louis Order Property

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What other locations were considered before they took the decision on 21 May 2004 to purchase premises for a centre for children with autism from the St Louis Order in Middletown; which other locations had already been in use for educational purposes; and why each was considered unsuitable.

Lord Rooker: An economic appraisal was completed by the Department of Education in advance of the purchase, which considered a number of options, including a new build on a green field site. The preferred option was the purchase of the site at Middletown, based upon cost effectiveness and a greater certainty of realising the benefits.
	At the time of consideration of the premises there were no other educational properties available in Northern Ireland, within an area accessible to families both north and south, containing extensive residential, educational and recreational facilities.

Norwich: Motorway Connections

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to provide a continuous link by dual carriageway between the City of Norwich and the motorway network of the United Kingdom; and, if so, when they expect such a link to be completed.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The City of Norwich is already directly connected to the motorway network by the A11 trunk road. It is of continuous dual carriageway standard between the M11, near Cambridge and Norwich, except for two sections: one at Attleborough and the other between Barton Mills and Thetford.
	Advance works on site for the A11 Attleborough bypass dualling are due to commence in August followed by main works in the spring of 2006. The road is planned to be open to traffic in 2007.
	Following the outcome of the Spending Review 2004 the A11 Fiveways to Thetford improvement scheme has been remitted to the region for advice on its priority alongside other transport proposals in the region. Hence, any construction work will not start before 2008-09 at the earliest. However, the Highways Agency is continuing to prepare details so that the scheme is in a good state of readiness to move forward to construction.

Ofcom

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many staff are (a) employed at Ofcom; and (b) were employed by the five previous regulators at the time of their replacement by Ofcom in 2003.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The matter raised is the responsibility of Ofcom as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the noble Lord. However, details of Ofcom employee numbers are given in Ofcom's annual report 2004-05, a copy of which was laid in the House and published on 19 July 2005. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Office for National Statistics

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Office for National Statistics last year changed the basis upon which it measured the effectiveness of the National Health Service.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician and Registrar-General Len Cook
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking why the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last year changed the basis upon which it measured the effectiveness of the National Health Service. (HL1451)
	There was no change in conceptual basis. The UK national accounts estimates released on 30 June 2004 used the same methodology as was introduced in 1998, but took advantage of more comprehensive information and much greater detail on the volume and cost of health services than had been available to ONS before. Further information can be found in the ONS article "Measuring government health services output in the UK national accounts: the new methodology and further analysis", which is available at www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/article.asp?id=988.

Online Gambling

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they still wish "to see Britain become a world leader in the field of online gambling", as stated in paragraph 133 of the 2003 Department for Culture, Media and Sport position paper The Future Regulation of Remote Gambling.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Yes. It remains the Government's view, given that the demand by people all around the world to participate in online gambling continues to grow, that it is better to provide opportunities here for the well regulated provision of facilities for such gambling rather than leave consumers with the option of using only gambling sites which may be at best inadequately regulated and at worst downright criminal. The British gambling industry is well placed to make the most of the opportunities which Parliament has now agreed, following the advice of the independent Gambling Review Body, the law here should make available. We are determined that the system of regulation of online gambling, which it will be the responsibility of the new Gambling Commission to administer, should be second to none in terms of ensuring fairness, propriety and the protection of children and the vulnerable; and we shall be actively seeking to promote international agreement about the standards of regulation which should apply to forms of gambling which are transnational in nature.

Peers: Letters Patent

Lord Lawson of Blaby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the "rights, privileges, pre-eminences, immunities and advantages" bestowed upon Peers in their Letters Patent.

Baroness Amos: In order to carry out its duties, Parliament and its Members need certain rights and immunities. In addition, all Peers, whether Members or not of Parliament, enjoy the privilege of peerage, as distinct from parliamentary privilege. All of these privileges are listed in detail in Chapter 11 of the Companion to the Standing Orders.

Pension Funds: Trustees

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the reasons for their proposal that half of trustees of pension funds must be member-nominated by 2009.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Member nominated trustees add value to trustee boards by increasing the variety of skills and experience; they bring a different perspective to bear on trustee discussions and decisions, and the involvement of members in the scheme can increase their sense of ownership in their pension arrangements. The Government believe that scheme members and the sponsoring employer should have the right to nominate an equal proportion of a scheme's trustees, and are therefore proposing to increase the proportion of member-nominated trustees from one third to one half.
	In considering the timing of this change, the Government recognise that pension schemes need time to implement other changes introduced by the Pensions Act 2004, including the changes to the existing member-nominated trustee provisions which may take until the latter part of 2007 before they are fully in place. We have, therefore, in the consultation document on the draft regulations on member-nominated trustees and directors suggested that the move to one half member nominated trustees takes place in 2009. This will give schemes a reasonable amount of time to prepare for the change. We will consider the timing of the change further in the light of the comments made as part of the consultation exercise.

Pension Protection Fund: Valuations

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they accept the recommendation of the board of the Pension Protection Fund for a legislative change to require all eligible pension schemes to provide valuations on a PPF basis (Section 179 valuations) by 31 December 2006; if so, what form the legislation will take; and when it will be brought forward.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are aware of the proposal made by the board of the Pension Protection Fund that a legislative change be made to require all eligible pension schemes to provide valuations on a PPF basis (section 179 valuations) by 31 December 2006.
	No decision has yet been made about whether we would be prepared to make this change to the legislation. We are conscious of the additional costs that would be incurred by some schemes if the legislation were changed to require PPF valuations to be provided at a date that was not in line with schemes' existing valuation cycles.
	We will await and carefully consider the outcome of the board's consultation on this point before deciding whether or not to make any change to the legislation.

Pensions: Compensation Payments

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When compensation payments to employees and former employees of insolvent companies, whose pension schemes have been wound up, will commence.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We hope to be in a position to make the first assistance payments from the financial assistance scheme before the end of the calendar year.

Police

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hazel Blears, on 5 July (HC Deb, 398W), why the precept has risen between 1997–98 and 2005–06 for (a) West Midlands Police by 167 per cent. from £15.00 to £25.04; (b) Metropolitan Police by 313 per cent. from £24.26 to £75.95; (c) Northumbria Police by 144 per cent. from £14.77 to £21.25; and (d) North Yorkshire Police by 375 per cent. from £17.78 to £66.60.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Police precepts on council tax are matters for police authorities to determine. The Government have invested hugely in policing over the past five years. Expenditure on policing in England and Wales supported by Government grant or spent centrally on policing on services for the police increased by 39 per cent. or over £3 billion between 2000-01 and 2005-06. Revenue raised locally through the police precept has contributed to funding expanded service levels and increasing police numbers. All police authorities have set reasonable budgets and precepts this year.

Prison Officers: Working with Young People

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they ensure arrangements are in place to enable prison officers working with children to undertake the new seven-day training for staff working with children.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Prison Service, in partnership with the Youth Justice Board and other key stakeholders, has developed the juvenile awareness staff programme, which was introduced in April 2004. This seven-day programme forms part of the National Qualifications Framework in Youth Justice and consists of a number of modules, including child protection, understanding and working with young people in custody and vulnerability assessment.
	The Youth Justice Board has provided funding to the Prison Service juvenile estate to enable 80 per cent. of staff that work with young people to have started this programme by the end of March 2006. Each establishment has been set agreed targets, and they all have trainers in place to deliver the programme locally.

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to permit the use of proceeds from crime, which have been frozen by the courts, to be used to pay for the defence of those charged in respect of organised crime; and, if so, what safeguards will apply to prevent "champagne defence abuse" of the system whereby money is returned to the defendant through excessive legal fees.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Parliament recently approved an amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002, which will allow respondents in Civil Recovery cases in the High Court to access the frozen assets to pay for their legal expenses in those proceedings. The department is currently consulting on regulations that will control costs in these cases, to prevent the dissipation of the assets on legal fees.
	The provisions of POCA currently preclude using frozen assets to meet defence costs in criminal cases.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: asked the Leader of the House:
	In the light of the letter from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to Members of the House indicating that correspondence should be answered within 20 working days, whether the period for answering Questions for Written Answer remains two weeks.

Baroness Amos: Yes.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked the Leader of the House:
	Whether she will bring forward proposals to introduce a mechanism whereby the Government answer Questions for Written Answer, submitted by Members of the House during Parliamentary recesses, without the need to wait for Parliament to reconvene; and
	Whether Parliamentary scrutiny of Government is well served by a gap between 22 July and 9 October 2005 during which Questions for Written Answer submitted by Members of both Houses of Parliament are not forwarded to government or answered.

Baroness Amos: The Government have always taken the view that the House should retain the principle of tabling Questions during periods when the House is sitting and Ministers are in attendance to respond to parliamentary scrutiny.
	The gap reflects the decision made by the House on its Summer Recess.

Railways: Safety

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, following the decision to transfer responsibility for United Kingdom railway safety from the Health and Safety Executive to the Office of Rail Regulation, they intend to make a similar transfer of responsibility for Channel Tunnel railway safety to the Intergovernmental Commission and Safety Authority.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Responsibility for the regulation of safety matters in the Channel Tunnel already rests with the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission and Safety Authority. The reorganisation of the UK regulatory system does not affect the agreed bi-national regime.

Railways: Sewage Discharges

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of passenger trains in the United Kingdom discharge sewage on to the track; and how many tonnes of raw sewage are estimated to be discharged every year on the railway track.

Lord Davies of Oldham: No figures are kept for the total volume of discharges on to the track but all trains built since 1988 discharge into retention tanks which are emptied at depots. Approximately 1,400 older carriages have toilets which discharge on to the track. This represents around 13 per cent. of the total fleet of 11,000 carriages.

Religious Discrimination

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether exceptions to the provisions of the Equality Bill forbidding religious discrimination and harassment in the provision of educational opportunities are matched by similar exceptions in the legislation of other countries of the European Union or the Commonwealth; and, if so, which countries have similar exemptions in their legislation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are unaware of what legislation other EU or Commonwealth countries are implementing to tackle religious discrimination and harassment, and are therefore unable to comment on whether the exceptions we have introduced mirror those in other countries.

Rent Restructuring

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which local authorities (a) have introduced rent restructuring for local authority tenants; and (b) propose to introduce rent restructuring in the next three years.

Baroness Andrews: Local authorities are not obliged to introduce rent restructuring, but are encouraged to do so through the operation of the housing revenue account subsidy system, which is calculated on the assumption that each authority is following the policy. No central records are kept of those authorities which have declined to introduce rent restructuring.

Rent Restructuring

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the legal basis for rent restructuring for local authority tenants; and when was their latest policy statement on its introduction.

Baroness Andrews: There is no statutory compulsion to introduce rent restructuring, although it is strongly encouraged through the operation of the housing revenue account subsidy system, which is calculated on the basis that the policy is adopted. It is for local authorities to decide whether or not they should do so, based upon local financial circumstances.
	The most recent statement on the introduction of rent restructuring was made in a press release on 9 November 2004.

Rent Restructuring

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an overall assessment of the effect of rent restructuring on availability of affordable housing in the areas where the policy has been implemented.

Baroness Andrews: The provision of more affordable housing is a key priority and we have a range of policies to deliver this. Sustainable Communities: Homes for All, published in January 2005, sets out the Government's strategy to offer everyone a decent home at a price they can afford. It includes action over the next five years to provide more homes where they are needed, while enhancing the environment, and offers new and improved options for hundreds of thousands of social tenants, first-time buyers and key workers who want to own their own home. It also sets out plans to provide better conditions and more choice to those who rent, with decent homes for all social tenants and to revitalise communities suffering from low demand and abandoned housing, and create more mixed communities.
	The aim of rent restructuring is to ensure that tenants have a clear and transparent choice of rental properties regardless of whether the landlord is a local authority or a registered social landlord. Social rents are, and will remain, well below market rents.

Residential Care

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When and how they expect to repeal the "liable relatives" rule following the commitment to do so made in April 2004 as part of the proposed changes to residential care charging; and whether this will require primary legislation; and
	What will be the cost of abolishing the "liable relatives" rule for residential care charging; whether this has been budgeted for in 2006–07; and how they will ensure that local authorities are recompensed.

Lord Warner: Where a person goes into residential care and receives assistance from social services with the cost, the "liable relative" rules give local authorities discretionary powers to ask the person's spouse to make payments towards the costs. This is now widely regarded as anachronistic, and we are committed to repeal the "liable relative" rules at the earliest opportunity. However, because these rules are in the National Assistance Act 1948, repealing them will require primary legislation.
	We estimate the costs of repealing the "liable relatives" rules to be £3 million to £4 million per annum. Changes were made to the charging arrangements in relation to savings credit and, as a result, local authorities gained around £5 million per annum. This enables the local authorities to cover the costs of the repeal of the "liable relatives" rules. We would encourage local authorities to use this money to discontinue use of the "liable relative" rules.

Road Safety Improvements

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have recent estimates of (a) the lives likely to be saved by; and (b) the cost of (i) individual road safety improvements; (ii) types of improvements; and (iii) improvement projects; and whether they have similar information related to the railway network.

Lord Davies of Oldham: This information is not available in the form requested. On both road and rail, a wide range of projects contributes to improved safety, but the costs are not individually attributed to safety benefits specifically.
	For road safety we continue to develop and implement our road safety strategy. The 2004 casualty figures show we are now over halfway towards our 2010 target of a 40 per cent. reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured, and over three-quarters of the way towards our 50 per cent. target for children.
	The road safety strategy is broad and involves activities ranging from local road safety engineering schemes to education and publicity campaigns. The department does not hold records of the costs of each of these activities, aside from the following:
	£14 million per year is spent on THINK! road safety campaigns;
	£4.5 million per year is spent on road safety research; and
	local highway authorities in England spend £90 million per year on local safety engineering schemes, and £21 million on education, training and publicity. The casualty reduction benefits of local safety engineering schemes in England are estimated at £281 million.
	Rail safety statistics have shown a gradual improvement over the years and this country's rail safety record is not out of line with that of other European countries. Neither the Government nor the industry hold information related to the costs of safety improvements. This is because newer rolling stock, signalling and infrastructure is safer than that which it replaces but "safety" is not the prime reason for the replacement. A better trained workforce is safer than otherwise but the "safety" element is not separately costed or evaluated. The only measures required by Government on safety grounds in recent years were the fitting of the train protection and warning system (TPWS), to reduce the incidents of signals passed at danger, and the requirement that Mark 1 (slam door) rolling stock be replaced by the end of November 2005. TPWS fitment was costed at £575 million, with the risk from signals passed at danger falling by 76 per cent. since March 2001.
	The rail industry's priorities for safety are set out in the Railway Strategic Safety Plan 2005, produced by the Rail Safety and Standards Board and available on its website www.rssb.co.uk.

Road User Charging

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to introduce road user charging for all motor vehicles.

Lord Davies of Oldham: In line with their manifesto commitment, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing.
	Detailed work is now being taken forward to allow decisions to be made on whether we should move to national road pricing. This work will include an examination of when this could happen. The road pricing feasibility study, published by the Department for Transport in July 2004, suggested that the earliest a full national road pricing scheme could be implemented was 2014. We are keen to explore the scope to develop local pilot schemes in advance of any national scheme.

Royal Air Force: Logo

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What costs were incurred in changing the Royal Air Force logo, including the fees paid to the firm that gave advice about the changes and the costs of new base signs, stationery and business cards.

Lord Drayson: The redesigned logo was produced by the Central Office of Information's in-house design team at a cost of £33,000. We are currently developing electronic stationery, business cards and other documents at a total cost of £13,000 and production cost of £10,000. By using desktop computer capabilities, the cost of implementation will be negligible. The new logo will be used on building fascias, signs and so on only when these need routine refurbishment.

Royal Air Force: Logo

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Royal Air Force logo was changed.

Lord Drayson: For several years the RAF has used a variety of logo type images to identify itself. As certain areas of the retail sector were using images very similar to the RAF's, development of a more coherent image was deemed necessary, thereby removing confusion and increasing coherence.

Royal International Air Tattoo

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review the safety arrangements for the Royal International Air Tattoo, held at RAF Fairford, in the light of the manoeuvre conducted by a Typhoon aircraft at the Air Tattoo at around 4.30 pm on 15 July.

Lord Drayson: Safety at flying displays is of paramount concern and is kept under constant review. The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) flying control committee sets and reviews safety arrangements for displays at the event.74It is confident that these arrangements are rigorous and that they worked well in this case. The pilot of the Typhoon experienced difficulty during a particular manoeuvre in his display sequence during a practice flight. During his routine post-flight review, the pilot, in consultation with his supervisors and the RIAT flying control committee, decided to modify the display which was subsequently reflown and revalidated.

Royal Mail

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they have delayed announcing the terms of reference and the inquiry team to review the future of Royal Mail.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said today, when appointing Sir George Bain to support him on Royal Mail issues, the Government remain committed to reviewing the impact of market liberalisation on Royal Mail. There has been no delay in announcing the review, as the manifesto did not set a timetable.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they will have with local authorities regarding the continuing contribution of local authorities to the funds of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) when local authorities renew contracts with the RNLI to provide a beach lifeguard service.

Baroness Andrews: The provision of beach lifeguarding is at the discretion of local authorities. In the autumn, an ODPM Minister will invite representatives of the local authorities and the RNLI to a meeting to give them an opportunity to discuss with each other issues of concern.

Royal Navy: Counter-narcotics Operations

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What standing naval commitments in the Caribbean and the north Atlantic are to be routinely tasked with counter-narcotics operations from November 2005 to May 2006.

Lord Drayson: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 21 July 2005 (Official Report, col. WA 320).

Rural Payments Agency: Staffing

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many persons are currently employed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to monitor and inspect compliance with the Single Farm Payment scheme.

Lord Bach: The Rural Payments Agency currently employs some 240 full-time equivalent inspectors for compliance monitoring purposes across all of the schemes it administers. There are currently 200 persons trained to undertake inspections for compliance with the single payment scheme.

Safeguarding Children: Chief Inspectors' Report

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to prevent a repetition of young people with a history of abusing children being placed in a dormitory with younger children as described in the second joint Chief Inspectors' report on Arrangements to Safeguard Children.

Lord Adonis: The joint Chief Inspectors' report recognises that there have been major developments in policy on children's services but it raises a number of concerns, including the care of children in residential settings, all of which the Government are considering carefully and will respond to in due course.
	There is already much good practice. For example, the Chief Inspectors found that where guidance—in particular, the framework for the assessment of children in need and their families—is being used effectively for new placements to inform the care plan, the higher quality of information has led to better outcomes for these children.
	Residential care homes should have a statement of purpose—this should prevent potential perpetrators being placed with potential younger victims. Homes are also expected to have explicit processes to ensure that children are protected and positive behaviour is supported.
	Residential special schools are also required to have a statement of purpose and are subject to the national minimum standards. The standards cover admissions for example, schools are required to make reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary information about a child including about any matters that might make a child vulnerable or a danger to others. They are required to take account of the effects of a child's admission on the existing group of children. A written placement plan is also required for each boarding pupil specifying how the school will care for the child in accordance with his/her assessed needs.
	The Government also recognise the importance and impact of a well-trained workforce on these issues. That is why the children's workforce strategy, published by my department on 1 April 2005, made improving the recruitment and retention of social workers a key priority. The strategy commits the Government to looking at further measures to increase the supply of social workers and calls on local authorities to adopt best practice in recruitment, training and development, working practices, and leadership and supervision.

Schools: Missing Afro-Caribbean Children

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 July (WA 198), what evidence the Metropolitan Police Officers have found to indicate that all African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 are safe and well; and
	Whether they will ask the Metropolitan Police to publish the names, schools and suspected present locations of the African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 and for whom they have no evidence that they are safe and well; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 July (WA 198), whether the 161 boys pursued by individual officers were in addition to the 300 possible names notified to the Metropolitan Police as African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001; and
	How many of the African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 are now accounted for; and
	What evidence they have that may indicate whether any of the African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 have been involved in exorcisms or similar rituals and practices.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I refer the noble Lord to the reply given to the Question from him on 27 June 2005 (HL790). None of the boys reported as missing is unaccounted for, but their personal details are police operational information and remain confidential. I understand from the Metropolitan Police Service that in every case there were legitimate reasons for the boys not returning to school. There is no evidence that any of them has come to any harm or been involved in ritualistic practices. There were no allegations from either the families or schools that the welfare of these children was at risk. The 161 boys in respect of whom enquiries were pursued by individual officers are a sub-set of the 300 names notified to the Metropolitan Police Service.

Schools: Missing Afro-Caribbean Children

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many African-Caribbean (a) girls, and (b) boys between the ages of four to seven have gone missing from schools in London during each year since 2000; and
	How many African-Caribbean children, who have gone missing from schools in London between 2000 to 2005, are now believed to be resident in (a) Africa or the Caribbean; (b) London or elsewhere in the United Kingdom; (c) elsewhere; or remain unaccounted for.

Lord Adonis: The Government are deeply concerned about any child missing from education, as it is not just the child's educational attainment that is at risk, but also potentially his/her safety and welfare. That is why we are focusing our efforts on improving local practice in identifying children missing, or at risk of going missing, from education and placing them in suitable educational provision.
	There are no reliable statistics of the number of children who go missing from schools. There may be a number of reasons why children do not continue their education in one school, including moving to another part of the country, or back to their native country. In some cases parents or carers fail to provide details of their child's new school. There is no evidence in these cases that the children involved have come to any harm.

Schools: Missing Children

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish quarterly statistics of all children who go missing from schools in the United Kingdom.

Lord Adonis: The Government are deeply concerned about any child missing from education, as it is not just the child's educational attainment that is at risk, but also potentially his /her safety and welfare. That is why we are focusing our efforts on improving local practice identifying children missing, or at risk of going missing, from education and placing them in suitable educational provision.
	There are certainly no reliable statistics of the number of children who go missing from schools. In due course, the information sharing indexes provided for in Section 12 of the Children Act 2004 will enable more accurate estimates to be made.

Secondary Schools: 15 Year-old Students

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What, at the start of the current school year, were (a) the total number of students aged 15; (b) the per cent in the age group obtaining the equivalent of level 2 (five or more grades at A* to C); (c) the average total point score per 15 yea-old; (d) the total number of students aged 16 to 18; (e) the total number entered for general and vocational A-level and AS results and key skills at level 3; and (f) the average point score per student in relation to (e) for (i) grammar schools; (ii) comprehensive schools; and (iii) modern schools.

Lord Adonis: The information for 2003-04 academic year can be found in the table below:
	
		
			  Selective Comprehensive Modern 
			 Number of 15-year old pupils 22,240 532,887 26,808 
			 Percentage achieving 5 or more A*-C at GCSE and equivalent (Level 2 equivalent) 97.7 51.4 42.3 
			   
			 Average GCSE and equivalents point score per 15-year old pupil 499.2 337.6 308.6 
			   
			 Number of 16-18-year old students on roll 40,991 283,950 10,393 
			   
			 Number of 16-18 year old GCE/ VCE A-level candidates 19,322 113,013 3,416 
			   
			 Average point score per candidate achieving GCE/VCE A/AS and key skills at Level 3 373.3 257.5 185.2

Sinn Fein: Judicial Review Applications

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What applications for judicial review have been initiated by Sinn Fein since 2000; which were rejected; which had costs awarded against Sinn Fein and how much; and whether those costs were paid.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Court records show that there have been two applications for judicial review made by Sinn Fein since 2000.
	The first application, in which the Lord Chancellor was the respondent, concerned the exercise of powers to make policy development grants to political parties under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and was dismissed on 10 April 2003 with no order made for costs.
	A subsequent appeal before the Court of Appeal was dismissed with an order that Sinn Fein pay the costs of the appeal. In a petition to the House of Lords, leave for a further appeal was granted but this appeal was later discontinued on the basis that Sinn Fein would continue to be liable for the costs of the original appeal to the Court of Appeal and for the appeal to the House of Lords to the point of discontinuance. The bill of costs in respect of this application is currently being drawn up.
	The second application, which challenged the decision by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to impose a financial penalty on Sinn Fein in light of the first report by the Independent Monitoring Commission, was dismissed on 14 February 2005 with an order that Sinn Fein pay the respondent's costs. A bill of costs has been drawn up, which remains to, be agreed between the parties.

South Yorkshire: Coalfields

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What financial assistance has been provided for the regeneration of the South Yorkshire coalfield; and from what sources.

Baroness Andrews: Several regeneration programmes provide assistance for the South Yorkshire coalfield area. The following gives approximate expenditure figures against each of those programmes. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the National Coalfields Programme are targeted specifically at the coalfield area of South Yorkshire. Other programmes cover a wider area but the figures shown represent the approximate amount provided either directly to the coalfield areas or on sub-regional projects from which people, communities and businesses in the coalfields areas benefit.
	National Coalfields Programme, spend to March 2005: £75 million
	Coalfields Regeneration Trust: spend to June 2005: £17 million
	Objective 1 programme, total grant value 2000-06: £695 million
	Other RDA programmes, spend to March 2005: £67 million

South Yorkshire: Unemployment

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	By what proportion unemployment has fallen in the county of South Yorkshire, covering Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, (a) in 2004, and (b) since 1997.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician and Registrar General, Len Cook, dated 27 July 2005.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (HL1432)
	Table 1 shows the percentage changes in the numbers of unemployed people resident in South Yorkshire between the 12-month period ending February 1997 and the corresponding period ending February 2004 the latest period available, together with the changes between 12-month periods ending February 2003 and February 2004. Table 2 shows changes in the unemployment rates for the same periods.
	These estimates are based on annual local area Labour Force Survey data which, as with any sample survey, is subject to sampling variability.
	The ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming jobseeker's allowance for local areas. Table 3 shows the percentage changes in the numbers of JSA claimants resident in South Yorkshire between June 1997 and June 2005, and between December 2003 and December 2004. Table 4 shows the changes in the proportions of jobseeker's allowance claimants for the same periods.
	The data are published on the Office for National Statistics Nomis website: www.nomisweb.co.uk.
	
		Table 1: Changes1 in numbers of unemployed persons aged 16 and over resident in South Yorkshire -- Thousands
		
			 12 months ending February Level 
			 1997 62 
			 2004 33 
			 Change (per cent) -45.7 
			 2003 33 
			 2004 33 
			 Change (per cent) 0.0
		
	
	Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey
	1 Changes calculated on unrounded estimates.
	
		Table 2: Changes1 in unemployment rates of persons aged 16 and over resident in South Yorkshire. -- Per cent
		
			 12 months ending February Rate 
			 1997 10.8 
			 2004 5.5 
			 Change  -5.3 
			 2003 5.5 
			 2004 5.5 
			 Change  0.0   
		
	
	Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey
	1 Changes calculated on unrounded estimates.
	
		Table 3: Changes in the numbers of claimants of JSA resident in South Yorkshire.
		
			 Month Number of claimants 
			 June 1997 47,599 
			 June 2005 19,367 
			 Change (per cent) -59.3 
			 December 2003 20,954 
			 December 2004 18,177 
			 Change (per cent) -13.3 
		
	
	Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative system.
	
		Table 4: Changes1 in proportions of claimants of JSA resident in South Yorkshire. -- Per cent
		
			 Month Proportion of residents of working age 
			 June 1997 6.1 
			 June 2005 2.5 
			 Change -3.7 
			 December 2003 2.7 
			 December 2004 2.3 
			 Change  -0.4   
		
	
	Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative system.
	1 Changes calculated on unrounded estimates.

Special Educational Needs

Lord Baker of Dorking: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the by the Lord Adonis on 14 July [HL Deb, col. 1313], what are the terms of the review of special educational needs which was promised by the Prime Minister during the recent general election; and
	Further to the statement by the by the Lord Adonis on 14 July [HL Deb, col. 1313] what was the cost of the review of special educational needs; and
	Further to the statement by the by the Lord Adonis on 14 July [HL Deb, col. 1313], which company was appointed to conduct the review of special educational needs; and which other companies tendered for that review.

Lord Adonis: The national audit of low-incidence special educational needs (SEN) support, services and provision commenced on 1 February 2005. Information about the audit was made available from that time. The audit is due to report back to the department in early January 2006.
	The audit will take into account the views of education, social care, health and the voluntary and private sectors. The aims of the audit are to:
	establish how local authorities meet the needs of the children in their authority with low incidence SEN;
	explore gaps in services, support and provision, and how these gaps can be/are being addressed;
	use the above to support and inform policy and practice development for regional and local planning and provision so that more pupils have their needs met locally;
	help develop thinking around regional centres of expertise; and
	identify local, regional and national centres of good practice and expertise, especially those with the potential for enhancing their role to provide advice and/or support to schools.
	For the purposes of the audit, low-incidence SEN covers children and young people with the following needs:
	multi-sensory impairments;
	Severe visual impairment;
	Severe/profound hearing impairment;
	Profound and multiple learning difficulties;
	Severe autistic spectrum disorders;
	and/or severe behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, including those with mental health needs.
	The Special Needs Consultancy is undertaking the audit on behalf of the department at a cost of £102,600 (excluding VAT).
	Three other bids were received:
	National Foundation for Educational Research
	Hoshin, Manchester
	Centre for Special Needs Education and Research, University College, Northampton.

Special Needs Teachers

Lord Baker of Dorking: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) How many teachers in England are trained to use Braille each year; (b) how many such teachers are employed by each education authority in England; and (c) what is their estimate of the number of such teachers needed in England; and
	(a) How many teachers in England are trained to specialise in meeting the educational needs of deaf children; (b) how many such teachers are employed by each education authority in England; and (c) what is their estimate of the number of such teachers needed in England; and
	(a) How many teachers in England are trained to specialise in teaching dyslexic children; (b) how many such teachers are employed by each education authority in England; and (c) what is their estimate of the number of such teachers needed in England; and
	(a) How many teachers in England are trained to specialise in meeting the educational needs of autistic children; (b) how many such teachers are employed by each education authority in England; and (c) what is their estimate of the number of such teachers needed in England; and
	(a) How many teachers in England are trained to specialise in meeting the educational needs of children with emotional and behavioural problems; (b) how many such teachers are employed by each education authority in England; and (c) what is their estimate of the number of such teachers needed in England; and
	(a) How many teachers in England are trained to specialise in meeting the educational needs of children with severe and profound learning difficulties; (b) how many such teachers are employed by each education authority in England; and (c) what is their estimate of the number of such teachers needed in England.

Lord Adonis: The information requested on the numbers of teachers trained and the numbers in service is not collected centrally. No estimate of the numbers of teachers needed has been made.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What protest they have made to the government of Sudan following the complaint by Mr Kofi Annan that the estimated 10,000 mainly Sudanese humanitarian aid workers in Darfur face constant harassment and interference.

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development raised the issue of harassment of humanitarian aid workers with both the government in Khartoum and with officials in Darfur during his visit to Sudan in June. One case he raised in particular was that of the arrest of the Head of Mission and Darfur Co-ordinator of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland, following the publication of its report on rape and gender-based violence in Darfur. On 19 June the charges against MSF were formally dropped.
	Harassment of humanitarian workers and organisations in Darfur is totally unacceptable. It represents a real threat in agencies ability to deliver life-saving assistance to the people who need it. Her Majesty's Government will continue to press the Government on this. These matters are also raised through multinational fora such as the regular sub-joint implementation mechanism meetings between donors and the government of Sudan.
	The security and humanitarian protocols signed in Abuja reinforce the need for all parties to allow humanitarian operations to go unhindered. The UK, in particular through the FCO/DfID Sudan unit, is pushing all sides to implement these.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will institute a regular system of reporting to both Houses of Parliament of the accounts of African Union monitors of air attacks, beatings, rape and killings in Darfur; and what incidents of this sort were reported in April and May 2005.

Baroness Amos: The African Union regularly shares its assessment of the security situation in Darfur with us, but on a confidential basis. Some of the official reports of the African Union (AU) Ceasefire Commission (the arm of the AU mission in Darfur which is responsible for investigating and reporting on breaches of the Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement) are available on the AU's website (www.africa–union.org). Unfortunately, this website is not always updated. We regularly press the AU to improve the availability of public information, and will continue to do so. In the mean time, the monthly reports of the UN Secretary-General on Darfur are available on the UN's website (www.un.org). These include a useful reporting on the security situation, drawing on the AU's assessment.
	The view of the AU and the UN Secretary-General is that the overall level of violence in Darfur this year has been lower than in 2004. Importantly, attacks against civilians, and civilian deaths, have decreased.
	Banditry, including cattle looting, harassment of humanitarian workers, isolated attacks on civilians and incidents of rape continued throughout April and May. No large-scale attacks by the parties to the ceasefire agreement—the government of Sudan, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) or the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)—were reported in April. However on 7 April, an Arab militia attacked the village of Khor Abeche in Southern Darfur, reportedly killing around 17 civilians. There were a number of clashes between the parties in the second half of May, in the run up to the resumption of the Abuja peace talks on 10 June. These clashes mostly took the form of small-scale rebel attacks against convoys of the government forces or police, with the SLA appearing to be the main perpetrator. There were also incidents of fighting between the SLA and the JEM. There have been no reports in recent months of attacks by the government of Sudan's airforce.

Supermarkets

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the effect of increased concentration in the supermarket sector and of practices in that sector on (a) the viability of the British-based food supply chain; (b) the terms and conditions of their own workers and those of supplying companies; and (c) the environmental impact of distribution systems; and whether they have any plans for a further inquiry into the sector.

Lord Bach: The supermarket sector was the subject of a wide ranging investigation by the Competition Commission during 1999-2000. In its report, published in October 2000, the commission identified a number of practices which, when carried on by any of the major supermarkets, adversely affected the competitiveness of some of their suppliers with the result that the suppliers were likely to invest less and spend less on new product development and innovation, leading to lower quality and less consumer choice. The commission considered that this was likely to result in fewer new entrants to the supplier market than otherwise. It also considered that certain of practices gave the major buyers substantial advantage over other smaller retailers, whose competitiveness is likely to suffer as a result, again leading to a reduction in consumer choice. It concluded that the exercise of some of these practices by the largest supermarkets operated against the public interest.
	The commission recommended as a remedy the establishment of a code of practice which would put relations between supermarkets and their suppliers on a clearer and more predictable basis. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) subsequently drew up a code of practice which entered into force in March 2002.
	More generally, the commission noted that in a competitive environment it would expect most or all of the impact of various shocks to the farming industry to have fallen mainly on farmers rather than on retailers; but the existence of buyer power among some of the main parties had meant that the burden of cost increases in the supply chain had fallen disproportionately heavily on small suppliers such as farmers.
	Although the commission's investigation did not encompass the terms and conditions of supermarkets workers or those of supplying companies it did consider the employment effects of opening new supermarkets. It found no consistent and quantifiably harmful impact on retail employment at the local level. National data indicated that gains in retail productivity between 1991 and 1995 had helped to absorb extra sales with broadly stable levels of labour. The commission noted that if fewer full-time and more part-time jobs were available this will have disadvantaged some, but proved attractive to others. The commission did not believe there had been any significant net loss of employment, but noted that if there had, it was not on a sufficient scale to justify interference in the process of change.
	The issue of buyer power, and its impact on suppliers, was also considered by the commission in its September 2003 report on the various bids for Safeway. In this context, the commission identified a number of adverse effects that would flow from the acquisition of Safeway by Asda, Sainsbury's or Tesco. One of these was that as a result of the further imbalance in the respective bargaining positions of Asda, Sainsbury's or Tesco and its suppliers, there would be a further general weakening of some suppliers' positions. In some cases, levels of investment in new products or manufacturing techniques would tend to be lower or slower than would otherwise have been the case, with adverse effects on products innovation and diversity. The commission went on to note that the acquisition by Morrisons might be expected to have a limited adverse effect as a result of the increased imbalance in its bargaining power vis-à-vis suppliers, with similar but more limited effects.
	In July 2004 Defra published research by London Economics which analysed trends in retail/farm gate price spreads, (that is, the difference between the price paid to the producer and the retail price) with particular reference to concentration in the retail market. The research found little evidence of trends in these price spreads being associated with increased concentration in the UK retail market.
	The Government have made no specific assessment of the impact of increased concentration in the supermarket sector and of practices in that sector on the terms and conditions of the employees either of supermarkets or of their suppliers. However, in 2004 Defra commissioned research designed to measure the demand for temporary workers in the agriculture, horticulture and primary processing industries, and the role of gangmasters in meeting that demand. This research was commissioned in response to a recommendation by the EFRA Select Committee in the report of its inquiries into the activities of gangmasters in the agriculture industry. The research report included an independent assessment by the researchers of how the changing nature of the food chain has influenced employment patterns and practices in agriculture, horticulture and primary processing industry. The researchers reported that both retailers and their suppliers have benefited from improved co-ordination and co-operation within the food chain. The researchers also reported the view expressed by some within the food chain that greater integration can lead to poor and illegal employment practices. Defra has provided copies of the report to the EFRA Select Committee. We will also be placing copies in the Library of the House.
	The environmental and social impact of food distribution systems was researched in a Defra-commissioned study by AEA Technology to assess the validity of "food miles" as a key performance indicator of the food industry's sustainability. The study into this complex area found that the external costs associated with UK food transport are just over £9 billion per year. Of this, £5 billion is attributed to the costs of congestion, of which half is attributed to the activities of the food industry and half to shopping trips by consumers in cars. The study took full account of trends in transport logistics and retailing, including consolidation within the industry. The Government have challenged the food industry in the draft food industry sustainability strategy being developed in partnership with the sector to reduce the external costs of its domestic food transportation by 20 per cent. by 2012. Copies of the research findings, which were published on 15 July 2005, have been placed in the Library of the House. No further research on this issue is currently being planned.
	The OFT considered the need for a further investigation of the grocery market in its March 2005 report Supermarkets: The code of practice and other competition issues. After considering comments on the findings of this report, the OFT announced in August 2005 that that there was no case for the referral of the grocery market to the Competition Commission for investigation or for a market study. However, the OFT will continue to refer acquisitions by supermarkets which are likely to give rise to a substantial lessening of competition to the Competition Commission or to obtain undertakings in lieu.
	The Government believe it is in supermarkets' own interest to agree fair and equitable arrangements for dealing with their suppliers, which will ensure the sustainability of a UK-based supply chain. The Government are considering whether there is further action that they can take to help bring this about.

Tax Returns: Filing Dates

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Inland Revenue proposes to alter its filing dates, in view of the decision to bring forward the Companies House filing date.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: HMRC keeps all tax return filing dates under review. The forthcoming Companies House change is a factor in our considerations.

Taxation

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2002 (WA 46–47), whether they will publish in the same form the top rate of direct tax on personal incomes in the United Kingdom for each year from 1975–76 to 2005–06.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: An updated version of the table given in my reply to the noble Lord of 11 March 2002 (WA 46-47) is given below:
	
		
			  Single/Basic, non-aged personal allowance for a man with no children Taxable income above which the highest rate is charged Highest rate of income tax charged Financial year average retail price index Single/Basic, non-aged personal allowance for a man with no children at2004-05 prices Taxable income above which the highest rate is charged at 2004-05 prices 
			 1975-76 675 20,000 98.00 35.91 3,537 104,790 
			 1976-77 735 20,000 98.00 41.40 3,340 90,894 
			 1977-78 945 21,000 98.00 47.19 3,768 83,729 
			 1978-79 965 24,000 98.00 51.11 3,552 88,351 
			 1979-80 1,165 25,000 75.00 59.19 3,703 79,469 
			 1980-81 1,375 27,750 75.00 68.85 3,758 75,834 
			 1981-82 1,375 27,750 75.00 76.77 3,370 68,010 
			 1982-83 1 565 31,500 75.00 82.20 3,582 72,101 
			 1983-84 1,785 36,000 75.00 86.03 3,904 78,733 
			 1984-85 2,005 38,100 60.00 90.37 4,174 79,324 
			 1985-86 2,205 40,200 60.00 95.71 4,335 79,027 
			 1986-87 2,335 41,200 60.00 98.78 4,448 78,475 
			 1987-88 2,425 41,200 60.00 102.72 4,442 75,465 
			 1988-89 2,605 19,300 40.00 108.88 4,502 33,351 
			 1989-90 2,785 20,700 40.00 107.38 4,464 33,180 
			 1990-91 3,005 20,700 40.00 128.74 4,392 30,252 
			 1991-92 3,295 23,700 40.00 134.85 4,597 33,068 
			 1992-93 3,445 23,700 40.00 139.11 4,659 32,055 
			 1993-94 3,445 23,700 40.00 141.48 4,581 31,518 
			 1994-95 3,445 23,700 40.00 145.35 4,459 30,679 
			 1995-96 3,525 24,300 40.00 150.08 4,419 30,464 
			 1996-97 3,765 25,500 40.00 153.73 4,608 31,209 
			 1997-98 4,045 26,100 40.00 158.81 4,792 30,922 
			 1998-99 4,195 27,100 40.00 163.76 4,820 31,136 
			 1999-2000 4,335 28,000 40.00 166.35 4,903 31,669 
			 2000-01 4,385 28,400 40.00 171.33 4,815 31,188 
			 2001-02 4,535 29,400 40.00 173.88 4,907 31,813 
			 2002-03 4,615 29,900 40.00 177.52 4,891 31,690 
			 2003-04 4,615 30,500 40.00 182.48 4,758 31,448 
			 2004-05 4,745 31,400 40.00 188.15 4,745 31,400 
			 2005-06 4,895 32,400 40.00 note 3 note 3 note 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A single personal allowance was replaced with a basic personal allowance in 1990-91
	2. For 1975-76 to 1983-84, the highest rate charged includes investment income surcharge at 15 per cent, but this total rate would only apply if the taxpayer's income included investment income greater than the threshold for the highest rate of surcharge, which varied between £2,000 in 1973-74 and £7,100 in 1983-84.
	3. Financial yearly average RPI available only up to 2004-05.

University Access Courses

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the numbers of students (a) of all ages, and (b) aged 17 who enrolled on internally assessed (i) university access courses in further education colleges, and (ii) university science access courses in each year since 1985 to 2004; what proportion of these (c) passed their courses, and (d) gained university places to do (iii) degrees, and (iv) science degrees; and what proportion of each of these students achieved such degrees.

Lord Adonis: The available figures on registrations on the access to HE courses recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) are as follows:
	
		
			 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 
			 31,778 32,734 36,132 37,729 38,684 40,484 40,218 45,877 
		
	
	These QAA figures are based on ones collected from its authorised validating agencies and so do not include access to HE programmes that are not QAA-recognised. QAA does not hold data prior to 1996-97, and the robustness of data pre-2000 cannot be guaranteed as the current data checking procedures were not then in place. QAA does not collect registration data by subject or by type of institution so cannot provide a breakdown of the number of enrolments in science subjects or further education colleges.
	There should be no registrations of 17 year-olds on QAA-recognised courses as these result in external qualifications and are not eligible for Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding for students under 19.
	The numbers of certificates awarded by AVAs on QAA-recognised access to HE courses are as follows (certificates should only be awarded by AVAs to those students who successfully complete a QAA-recognised access to HE course)
	
		
			 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 
			 13,524 14,850 15,276 17,194 16,404 17,085 18,393 19,605 
		
	
	It would be misleading to present the number of certificates as a proportion of registrations as those registered on part-time courses may not be intending to complete their course within the year they registered in.
	Figures on the proportion of those registered who gained university places to do degrees are not available from QAA or the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

VAT

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 19 July 2004 (WA 14), whether they will update the table showing standard VAT rates and registration thresholds for the 25 European Union member states.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: An updated table showing the standard VAT rates and registration thresholds for the 25 European Union member states is set out below:
	
		
			   Registration Thresholds  
			 Member State Standard Rate (%) Sterling1 Euro equivalent 
			 Belgium 21 £3,841 5,580 
			 Czech Republic 19 £21,158 30,731 
			 Denmark 25 £4,590 6,667 
			 Germany 16 £12,048 17,500 
			 Estonia 18 £11,016 16,000 
			 Greece 19 £6,196 (G) or £2,754 (S) 9,000 or 4,000 
			 Spain 16 None None 
			 France 19.6 £52,532 (G) or £18,589 (S) 76,300 or 27,000 
			 Ireland 21 £35,113 (G) or £17,556 (S) 51,000 or 25,500  
			 Italy 20 None None 
			 Cyprus 15 £10,740 15,600 
			 Latvia 18 £11,842 17,200 
			 Lithuania 18 £19,966 29,000 
			 Luxembourg 15 £6,885 10,000 
			 Hungary 25 £10,919 15,860 
			 Malta 18 £25,474 (G) £16,730 (S-high inputs) £10,052 (S-Low inputs) 37,000 24,300 14,600 
			 Netherlands 19 None None 
			 Austria 20 £15,147 22,000 
			 Poland 22 £6,885 10,000 
			 Portugal 19 £6,868 (G) or £8,585 (S) 9,976 or 12,470 
			 Slovenia 20 £17,212 25,000 
			 Slovak Republic 19 £25,437 36,946 
			 Finland 22 £5,852 8,500 
			 Sweden 25 None None 
			 UK 17.5 £60,000 87,144   
		
	
	Source: Europa website
	Note: Currency Conversion rate is €l = £0.6885
	(G): Goods
	(S): Services

War Pensions: Smoking-related Diseases

Baroness Park of Monmouth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider recognising smoking-related disease as a war pensionable condition in line with the governments of New Zealand and Australia.

Lord Drayson: Under the rules of the war pension scheme, pensions are not generally awarded in respect of conditions that are due to the use or effects of tobacco. This reflects the long-standing position of successive governments over more than 50 years that the scheme was never intended to provide compensation for the consequences of habits that are matters of personal choice, such as smoking and drinking. There are no plans to change this approach.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the procedure in cases of bullying and harassment against directors and the chief executive of Waterways Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The Waterways Ireland policy on bullying and harassment, which is available in the Library, details the procedures to be applied in the event that allegations are made against any employee including the directors or the chief executive.

Young Offender Institutions

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the personal officer is being promoted in young offender institutions.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All young offender institutions operate a personal officer scheme. The introduction of the offender management model currently being developed will result in changes in the way individual offenders are managed. Personal officer schemes will be reviewed as part of the implementation of the model, but the personal officer will continue to play a key role.

Young Offender Institutions

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to relieve the distress experienced by boys and girls when they first arrive at young offender institutions.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The early period in custody is recognised as a very vulnerable time for young people, therefore a number of procedures have been designed to relieve their distress and enhance safety. On arrival into custody, every young person is interviewed to determine their immediate needs and level of vulnerability. This screening process assesses the likelihood of the young person self-harming and i dentifies the need for further in depth assessment. Where a risk of self-harm or suicide is identified, appropriate action is taken to minimise it. The Youth Justice Board, in partnership with H M Prison Service, is currently developing an improved screening process to be piloted in six establishments during 2005.
	Information is provided to the young person on the reception process and the support available to them if they feel under stress or depressed, and they are offered the opportunity to telephone someone who may be concerned about their well-being. They are also given a first night pack (including reading and writing materials, a radio and phone card or equivalent) and any additional items required. Diversionary materials, such as magazines/newspapers (and televisions/videos where possible) are provided in reception.
	Following the first night, every young person starts an induction process which introduces them to the culture and rules of the establishment and details the support available to them. During this process a personal officer/caseworker will be assigned to them to act as an advisor and source of day-to-day support.

Young Offender Institutions

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to increase the staffing ratios in young offender institutions.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Prison Service has a service level agreement with the Youth Justice Board, which requires the Prison Service to provide a level of service in young offender institutions in accordance with certain operational specifications.
	The Prison Service will shortly be conducting an assessment of each establishment's ability to meet those requirements. If it was to conclude that services cannot be delivered to the required standard within current staffing ratios, the board would have to consider appropriate remedial steps.

Young Offender Institutions

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to reduce the number of 16 and 17 year-olds inappropriately placed in young offender institutions despite attempts by the Youth Justice Board and youth offending teams to place them appropriately.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Youth Justice Board recognises that a minority of older boys in juvenile young offender institutions need additional support on account of their vulnerability. In its recent consultation on the future of the secure estate, the board put forward a proposal for developing special units within establishments to provide for these young people. The board's draft strategy for the secure estate is currently under consideration.
	16 year-old girls are placed in secure training centres or secure children's homes, not in young offender institutions. We are building special units in which 17 year-old girls can be accommodated, ensuring separation from older offenders. The first of these, at Downview in Surrey, opened in December 2004. The remaining four are due to be in operation by 2006.

Young Offender Institutions

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether children with severe or chronic mental disorders are placed in secure settings.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Courts sentencing young offenders take into account the young person's mental health condition. On occasion, young people with mental disorders have been sentenced to custody. The Department of Health (DoH) now has responsibility for health provision for young people in young offender institutions. The Home Office and the Youth Justice Board are working with DoH to ensure there is adequate provision of secure hospital places for young people and that young people with less severe mental health problems also receive the care they need.

Zimbabwe

Baroness Park of Monmouth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Home Office, in compiling its country information report on Zimbabwe for 2004–05, consulted the Advisory Panel on Country Information.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Advisory Panel on Country Information (APCI) undertook a detailed examination of the October 2004 Zimbabwe Country of Origin Information Report. Comments from the APCI were taken on board in the April 2005 Zimbabwe Country of Origin Information Report. The April 2005 Zimbabwe report is currently being examined by the APCI, and feedback from this will be incorporated into the October 2005 Zimbabwe report.

Zimbabwe

Baroness Park of Monmouth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place a copy of the Home Office country information report on Zimbabwe for 2004–05 in the Library of the House, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office report on international human rights for the same period.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The April 2005 Home Office Country of Origin Information Report on Zimbabwe and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2004-05 human rights report are available in the Library of the House. The next version of the Home Office Country of Origin Information Report on Zimbabwe, to be published in October 2005, will also be sent to the Library immediately on publication.

Zimbabwe: Asylum Seekers

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 July (WA 238), whether specific instructions have been given to immigration officers regarding the treatment of failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In recent weeks, staff have been reminded that there has been no change in the Government's policy towards returns to Zimbabwe and have been notified of the deferral of some removals and the introduction of a final check before the enforced removal of failed asylum seekers.